Delays hit suspected arson case

A man accused of setting his business on fire last week was scheduled to turn himself over to authorities Monday but was still free Wednesday because of delays in the courts, said Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach.

Leinbach said the charges first were filed in federal court, but a federal court judge sent the case back to district court.

Leinbach was not sure when the business owner would be taken into custody, but it will be soon.

The fire took place at Speedy Com, a cellular phone and pager company at 3348 E. Tropicana Ave.

The owner told arson investigators and Metro Police that he ran from his building after encountering two masked men pouring liquid onto a floor.

Leinbach said the man later confessed that the story was false.

A two-alarm fire was turned in at 3:11 p.m., and the blaze was out by 4 p.m., said Leinbach.

There were no injuries.

Property manager Bob Silagy, an employee of Cal.-Nev. Realty, estimated damage to the building at about $500,000.

The owner of the business has leased the building for the past four months, Silagy said.

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