A southeast Iowa man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to his own apartment on Saturday, according to police.
Eric Shroyer, 33, of Mount Pleasant, was arrested on December 6th around 11:47 p.m. and is being held on a $25,000 bond on a Class B felony charge of Arson in the First Degree.
According to criminal records, Shroyer called Henry County Dispatch and reported that he had intentionally set his apartment on fire and was waiting for law enforcement in a nearby parking lot. Sergeant Body met Shroyer in the Open Bible Church parking lot, where Shroyer allegedly admitted to setting his apartment on fire. The sergeant could see smoke coming from the apartment building at that time.
After detaining Shroyer in his squad car, Sergeant Body and Officer Swanson went to the apartment building and found Shroyer’s apartment engulfed in flames.
Officers immediately began evacuating neighboring units in the single-row building, all of which shared the same roof. Due to damage to the main structure, wiring, and plumbing above the affected unit, residents were unable to return to their apartments after the fire was extinguished and required temporary housing for at least the night.
Shroyer was read his Miranda Rights and requested to provide a statement at the station. Investigators say he told them he had set the fire because he was tired of living and wanted to return to prison. He stated he poured a gallon of gasoline on his bed and couch before igniting it with a lighter. After the fire took hold, he left the apartment and called 911.
When asked about the other residents in the building, Shroyer told officers he had not considered them and would not have warned them about the fire.
Shroyer has a prior conviction for Arson in the Second Degree from December 2nd, 2019, in Greene County, Missouri.
