Current Events > Landlord burns down his building to the tune of We Didn't Start the Fire

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/minnesota/news/charges-duluth-landlord-started-apartment-on-fire-while-blaring-we-didnt-start-the-fire/

DULUTH, Minn. -- A landlord in Duluth deliberately set his apartment on fire, all while blasting Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," according to recently filed charges.
Travis Carlson, 37, faces one felony charge of first-degree arson in connection to the May 18 incident, court documents show.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were dispatched shortly after 4 a.m. to the 2400 block of Fourth Street in Duluth on the report of an upstairs apartment on fire. When emergency crews arrived, they found the upstairs apartment on fire with "We Didn't Start the Fire" blaring from the unit, the complaint said.

The downstairs tenant says they woke up to their landlord, identified as Carlson, "smashing glass and breaking things" for about 20 minutes, according to the complaint. Carlson then knocked on the downstairs tenant's apartment, telling the tenant that "the house is on fire."

A neighbor also told officers that they saw Carlson under his truck with gas cans, going in and out of the house. An investigation revealed a drilled hole in his truck's gas tank with lids to gas cans laying around the truck. The complaint also notes that "green liquid lines from a burned accelerant" stained several pieces of furniture in the apartment.
Officials say Carlson was found the next day with "fresh burn injuries" to his arms and legs.
If convicted, Carlson could face up to 20 years in prison.

I guess he did start it?

Life in prison.

Also the land should now belong to the victim.

Wait... why did he crawl under his car to put a hole in his gas line to get the gas? There are easier ways to get gas.

Unsuprised_Pika posted...

Life in prison.

Also the land should now belong to the victim.

Indeed. 20 years doesnt seem like nearly enough.

GeraldDarko posted...

Wait... why did he crawl under his car to put a hole in his gas line to get the gas? There are easier ways to get gas.

im thinking the mental faculties were not all functioning at the time

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


CE_gonna_CE posted...

Indeed. 20 years doesnt seem like nearly enough.

Looking into the statutes, they are charging him with attempted first degree murder by arson. The law limits "attempted" type crime sentences to either half the sentence of a completed crime or 20 years in the case of a crime that carries a life sentence.

All of his possessions and assets should be liquidated, and given to the tenants

GeraldDarko posted...

Wait... why did he crawl under his car to put a hole in his gas line to get the gas? There are easier ways to get gas.

Sounds like he was on some serious drugs

ib someone comes in with nOt AlL lAnDlOrDs

willythemailboy posted...

Looking into the statutes, they are charging him with attempted first degree murder by arson.

Burning down your own building shouldn't be illegal.
Burning down your own building, while someone is inside it, is pretty fucked and definitely should be illegal

Questionmarktarius posted...

Burning down your own building shouldn't be illegal.

Without permits/safety requirements?

Uhh no

That is how you lose entire city blocks/national parks

Questionmarktarius posted...

Burning down your own building shouldn't be illegal.

yes it should

So he did start the fire though?

KYOJIROKAGENUMA posted...

So he did start the fire though?

"We didn't start the fire" is technically correct when only one person does.

Questionmarktarius posted...

"We didn't start the fire" is technically correct when only one person does.

Depends, are we counting the voices in his head?

willythemailboy posted...

Depends, are we counting the voices in his head?

ohdamn

At least this dumbass got burn injuries from it

g980 posted...

ib someone comes in with nOt AlL lAnDlOrDs

Not all landlords take to arsonist their own properties tho

And certainly not to the tune of We Didnt Start the Fire

We didnt start it precious!

Questionmarktarius posted...

Burning down your own building shouldn't be illegal.
Burning down your own building, while someone is inside it, is pretty fucked and definitely should be illegal

Sure let's just have every moron burning down their house/building and spreading fires fucking everywhere. Real smart

KYOJIROKAGENUMA posted...

So he did start the fire though?

Yes.

The fire rises.

let us not ignore the fact that he drilled holes in the bottom of his gas tank to get the gasoline

what in the actual fuck

The defendant pleaded insanity, claiming that after rock and roll and cola wars, he couldn't take it anymore

Axiom posted...

Sure let's just have every moron burning down their house/building and spreading fires fucking everywhere. Real smart

So... don't let the fire spread.

Reminds me of that time that somebody was driving through dozens of miles of wildfire with Highway to Hell on infinite loop. And it somehow soothed them.

Questionmarktarius posted...

So... don't let the fire spread.

Great plan, chief

CE_gonna_CE posted...

Not all landlords take to arsonist their own properties tho

And certainly not to the tune of We Didnt Start the Fire

bootlicker

Robot2600 posted...

let us not ignore the fact that he drilled holes in the bottom of his gas tank to get the gasoline

what in the actual fuck

I guess he somehow thought that would be less traceable than just filling up a can at a gas station?

unless this was just a spur of the moment thing

g980 posted...

bootlicker

Well not exactly.

I am one