WATERVILLE — State and local fire officials are awaiting a decision from the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office on whether charges will be filed in connection with a dumpster fire on the Colby College campus May 22 that state fire officials investigated as an arson.
Sgt. Ken Grimes of the state fire marshal’s office said Wednesday that the DA’s office got the case last week “and we’re waiting for their review and opinion.”
Waterville fire Chief David LaFountain and fire Captain Shawn Esler, who was at the fires, met Friday with an official from the district attorney’s office and gave him their reports and photographs of the dumpster fire, LaFountain said Wednesday.
“My opinion, as chief of the department, is that when my people are attacked, regardless of where they are or who we’re dealing with, those people should be charged,” LaFountain said. “Whoever starts a fire, regardless of who they are — if somebody started a dumpster fire anywhere else in the city, I would expect that charges should be filed, depending on the evidence.”
The dumpster fire occurred a few hours after firefighters responded to a large bonfire near a senior dormitory off Washington Street around 1 a.m. May 22, just hours before graduation. A large crowd of students had gathered at the bonfire and many were drinking and started throwing bottles, cans and a wine bottle, police Chief Joseph Massey said at the time. Massey said fire fighters felt threatened enough that they held off fighting the blaze until police arrived.
A student, Jonathan Sdao, 24, of Niwot, Colorado, was arrested after he allegedly threw a bottle that struck two police officers. Sdao was charged with two counts of assault and refusing to submit to arrest.
Grimes said at the time that his office had identified at least two students responsible for the dumpster fire, which was reported at 4:30 a.m. May 22 on a paved area near the senior dorm. The students are from out of state, according to Grimes.
District Attorney Maeghan Maloney was not in her office Wednesday morning and did not immediately respond to messages left on both her office and cell phones.
This story will be updated.
Amy Calder — 861-9247
Twitter: @AmyCalder17
