Elijah Born, (Adams County Justice Center, Courtesy)
HASTINGS — A Hastings man is facing two felony charges following an arson incident that occurred at the Brewery Loft Apartments during the early morning hours of Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Elijah Born, 21, is charged with aiding and abetting a Class 2 felony, a Class 2 felony and possession of a firearm while committing a felony, a Class 2 felony.
Born was arraigned in Adams County Court on Feb. 9 and his bail was set at ten percent of $50,000. A hearing in the case has been scheduled to waive or set a date for a preliminary hearing.
According to an affidavit submitted in Adams County Court, at 6:38 a.m. on Feb. 4, an officer with the Hastings Police Department was dispatched to the Brewery Loft Apartments, 219 W. 2nd St. for an arson investigation.
It was found that a large orange traffic cone had been intentionally set on fire at the bottom of stairwell three on the southwest corner with newspaper being used as kindling.
Firefighters with Hastings Fire and Rescue advised that the entire four-story stairwell was filled with black smoke when they arrived on scene. Four occupants from the building were transported to Mary Lanning Hospital for smoke inhalation.
In total there were 30 occupied apartments with an estimated 50 residents.
It was noted the fire alarm had not sounded until after the firefighters entered the building. The fire department had been contacted by a resident who had entered the smoke-filled stairwell.
Damages are estimated at around $5,000 including smoke damage to the stairwell. No residences were damaged by the fire.
Surveillance footage was reviewed and showed an individual, identified as Born, and a 15-year-old Hastings resident entered the building carrying the traffic cone.
Both Born and the 15-year-old would be arrested following the investigation.
