Arson suspect had 2 firebombs in central Arkansas apartment, police say

David Hartsell
David Hartsell

CONWAY -- Police found items that appeared to be two Molotov cocktails in the apartment of a man accused of setting fire to a Conway apartment building, injuring two people, an affidavit says.

One of the injuries was minor, though the other was life-threatening, according to the police affidavit filed in Faulkner County Circuit Court.

A dog died in the Feb. 27 fire that destroyed a 12-unit building at Germantown Apartments on South German Lane.

David Hartsell, 50, was arrested on charges of arson and first-degree battery shortly after the early morning fire.

He remained in the county jail Monday in lieu of $500,000 bond, online jail records show. His next court date is March 20.

The affidavit, filed late last week, said wicks were still attached to the devices.

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"One cocktail was visible from outside the apartment and appeared to be a large bottle with the wick still attached sitting upon the kitchen counter," the affidavit said. "The other cocktail reported was a gasoline can under the sink also with a wick coming out of it."

The affidavit said a fire investigator had advised police that the blaze originated in Hartsell's apartment.

When a detective entered a Police Department room to interview Hartsell later, "he noted a strong odor of accelerants, mainly gasoline on Hartsell's person," the affidavit said.

State Desk on 03/07/2017

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