Colorado man accused of arson in Morehouse Parish

MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KNOE) — The State Fire Marshal’s Office has arrested a Colorado man accused of setting his brother’s home and business on fire in April.

According to SFM, 39-year-old Tyson Corneilson was taken into custody the week of June 1st by the Junction City Police in Kansas on an SFM warrant for this case.

They say deputies traveled to the Geary County Jail over the weekend to transport Corneilson to Morehouse Parish Jail for official booking on one count of arson.

Authorities say on April 15, the Bastrop Fire Department responded to the 100 block of South Franklin Street in response to a structure fire. The building was a combination of commercial and residential.

They say after assessing the scene, it was determined the fire began in the upstairs, residential portion of the building, and was intentionally set.

Deputies say they learned the building had just been purchased. The new owners were out of town at the time of the fire, but prior to the fire, they had requested local authorities to keep an eye on the building while they were away.

According to investigators, witness statements and evidence including video surveillance led them to identify Corneilson as a suspect in the case.

SFM say after exhaustive efforts to locate Corneilson locally, his arrest warrants were entered into a national database.

Junction City Police Department contacted the SFM to inform them an officer had spotted Corneilson and taken him into custody.

The investigation is ongoing.

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