Man Charged With Arson After Lighting His Scooter on Fire in St. Pete Beach
Deputies from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for arson after he admits he lit his 2016 Taizhou scooter on fire subsequently causing damage to two vehicles parked near the fire.
According to deputies, they responded to 8630 Blind Pass Road to a scooter fire at about 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday August 9, 2017.
Upon arrival, deputies initially conducted traffic control while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. Deputies say while on scene they were approached by the owner of the scooter, 35-year-old Chance Richie who appeared intoxicated.
Richie told deputies he had crashed his scooter at an unknown location, got mad at his scooter and lit it on fire. There was minor damage caused to cars parked on either side of the scooter.
Contact was made with the owners of those vehicles.
Richie was arrested for two counts of arson, and violation of probation – possession of cocaine.
He was transported to Pinellas County Jail.
The investigation continues