Troy man jailed on two counts of felony arson

A Troy man is jailed after authorities say he started two fires recently in the downtown area.

Clark Eugene Nelson, 76, is being held in the Lincoln County Detention Center on $100,000 bail, facing two felony counts of arson.

Nelson made his first court appearance Oct. 25 in front of county Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield.

According to the probable cause statement by Troy Police Chief Travis Miller, he responded to the Town Pump at about 2:47 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, for a fire call.

Troy Volunteer Fire Department members had extinguished the blaze and showed Miller the scene at pump 8 where a dark spot on the concrete indicated the spot of the alleged fire. One firefighter told Miller the fire appeared to be suspicious because there were small pieces of trash or paper in the middle that made it look like the fire was lit on purpose.

Miller then went inside the store, met with a manager and watched video from a security camera that showed a black Dodge pickup with a headache rack on the back, stickers or magnets on the tail gate and a dog in the cab.

On the video, Miller reported watching the truck pull up past the pump, a man got out and used a card for gas before removing the nozzle and spraying gas on the ground. The man then grabbed a paper bag from inside the truck, allegedly lit it on fire and threw it on the gas.

After the bag flamed up, the man jumped into his truck and sped out of the parking lot headed toward the train tracks.

While Chief Miller was reviewing the video footage, dispatch informed him there was a fire at 119 West Kootenai Ave. Fire crews and Miller both responded.

Miller reported seeing a black Dodge pickup in the yard. He walked closer and determined it was the same truck while firefighters battled the residential blaze.

He called for a county deputy because the home sat just outside city limits. As Miller approached the truck, a fire chief said he wanted the owner of the house checked out by the ambulance crew.

Miller then spoke to the man in the truck, Nelson, who told him the dog was in the camper. During a search, Miller reported finding two pistols in his pocket and a shotgun on the front seat of the pickup.

Miller handcuffed Nelson and deputy Joshua Brabo arrived. When Miller read the defendant his rights and asked if he would speak to him, Nelson said he wanted to speak to an attorney.