ST PAUL, Minn. — A 38-year-old man was charged with one count of first-degree arson after a three-story apartment building in St. Paul burned Tuesday and displaced 19 people.
The charge was filed Thursday against Matthew Ryan Gieske in district court.
St. Paul police said they were initially called to the building, located on the 1600 block of Marion Street in St. Paul's North End neighborhood, at about 6:15 p.m.
According to the criminal complaint, a man who lives in the building told officers the incident began when he and his sister were approached outside by Gieske with a knife. The 911-caller said he then brandished a gun, prompting Gieske to run from the scene.
The man said after he returned to his apartment, there was a disturbance at his door. He said he then noticed an odor similar to lighter fluid, and looked out the peephole in his door, recognizing Gieske.
The man said he told Gieske he was going to call police, and shortly after, saw flames coming into his second-floor apartment. He was able to escape out his balcony.
The St. Paul Police Department said officers arrived to the building at about 6:30 p.m. and found fire and smoke on the building's back stairwell, as well as smoke coming from the second floor. The fire department was then called in to assist.
Officers said after the fire was extinguished, the second floor of the building was severely burned, and a partially melted gas can was found in the hallway.
Due to the damage the building sustained, it was condemned. Nineteen tenants were displaced, but no injuries were reported.
Police said when they made contact with Gieske, he appeared to be "distressed" and did not follow directions from officers. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ramsey County Jail.
At a court hearing Thursday, a judge ruled Gieske must submit to a mental evaluation to assess his competency before standing trial.
