An Aiken man was arrested Wednesday after police say he set fire to his upstairs bedroom at 251 York St. SE and then tried to run from responding officers.
According to the Aiken Department of Public Safety, 31-year-old Anthony Reinzo tossed two lighters on the ground, told officers they “might wanna go check upstairs real quick,” and resisted when they attempted to detain him as smoke began filling the building.
The call came in around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday after resident Hannah McCullough reported loud crashing noises, yelling, and what sounded like glass breaking above her unit. Officers initially struggled to access the multi-unit building, which resembles a single home from the outside. When they arrived, they saw a man – later identified as Reinzo – retreat inside and lock the door, until another resident, Antonio Townsley, opened a separate entrance to help them in.
Reinzo briefly returned to the porch before attempting to flee, prompting Officers Cooper, Sharkey, Bethmann, and Massey to take him to the ground and handcuff him. As they secured him, an unidentified woman ran out saying he had set the bedroom on fire. Officers then saw smoke pouring from the stairwell and heavy black smoke rising from the roofline.
Reinzo was placed in a patrol car while officers evacuated residents and firefighters arrived to begin suppression efforts. Two lighters dropped by Reinzo were collected as evidence.
During an interview at ADPS headquarters, investigators say Reinzo admitted he lit paper towels and threw them onto his bed because he was angry and “seeing red.” No injuries were reported among residents.
Reinzo was charged with arson, two counts of assault and battery and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Aiken County Detention Center.
