Man Charged With Arson In St. Paul Fire

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A 29-year-old man is accused of setting his bedroom on fire after moving out of a St. Paul house earlier this week, according to charges filed in Ramsey County Court on Wednesday.

David Allen Mason was charged with seven felony counts of first-degree arson in connection with the incident, which took place early Tuesday morning.

According to a criminal complaint, a person at the home on the 1000 block of Virginia Street called 911 at about 1 a.m. and reported that a roommate who was moving out of the home set his room on fire. The person said the roommate, later identified as Mason, locked his bedroom door and left the home about 15 minutes before the person's call.

Several people were scrambling to get out of the home, including four adults, a 2-year-old girl and a 5-month-old boy.

Authorities learned through an investigation that four men rented bedrooms in the home. The person who called 911 and her two young children frequently visit the home to see a person who rents an upstairs bedroom. Mason allegedly approached the woman and told her he was interested in having a romantic and sexual relationship with her, according to the complaint. When she rejected the advances, Mason became angry.

A renter at the house told police Mason asked him if there was any gasoline in the garage or yard. The woman said Mason later piled dresser drawers and other items in the room he was renting and told her he was going to set the house on fire. The woman didn't believe he would actually do it and went to bed.

The complaint states Mason later slammed his bedroom door, and eventually smoke came out from underneath his door. Damage to the home from the fire was estimated at more than $50,000. The home is currently uninhabitable.

A cat also died of smoke inhalation from the fire. Mason was later arrested in the parking lot of the Emerald Inn near Interstate 694 and White Bear Avenue.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine on each count of arson.