A Gary man was charged with arson Friday after allegedly setting fires in an apartment building’s basement on 5th Avenue and Madison Street.
Antonio Adger, 37, was taken to Methodist Hospitals in Gary for a mental evaluation after his initial arrest, but medical staff didn’t call the cops back before they released him, court records state.
He is wanted, ordered held without bond.
Police responded April 23 to the building, 501 Madison Street.
Adger was caught on camera, the affidavit states. While headed to the hospital, Adger tried to break a cop’s car window with his bare hands.
Apartment staff said they put out the fires with an extinguisher, then cleared everyone out of the building. Adger passed one employee on the way up. She saw him get off an elevator and run out a south door. He appeared to have a lighter and wore a dark blue sweatshirt, plaid shirt and jeans.
She later went to one of the management’s other buildings on the 1500 block of 5th Avenue, where she saw him again.
“Do you think I’m wrong for setting that place on fire,” Adger asked. “That (woman) owes me $3,000.”
She called the cops, who arrested him.
The damaged building had 65 occupied apartments and would need to replace 15 sprinklers.
mcolias@post-trib.com
