Court documents describe alleged arson attempt at Topeka middle school

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Newly released court documents are providing new information about the arrest of a man for an alleged arson attempt at Robinson Middle School in central Topeka.

The Topeka Police Department arrested a 28-year-old Topeka man on Sunday, May 5 just before 6 p.m. He was later charged with felony attempted arson of a property or building that is not a dwelling.

According to court documents, a police officer arrived at the school in the 1100 block of SW 14th Street to find a man bending over with what looked like a bottle and sock. The officer reported the man began to walk away but eventually stopped at an officer’s request and was taken into custody.

Police chase crosses county lines, ends in Jackson Co.

When the officer returned to where the man had been standing, he reported finding an open bottle of alcohol, two wet socks and broken glass on the ground. A witness told police she saw an individual standing by the doors of the school with something that appeared red and orange in his hand. She said the man threw that object at the school.

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