Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Suspect in Trump hotel fires says he hadn’t slept, was bent on mischief

0426Trump01

Steve Marcus

A view of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Click to enlarge photo

Roger Fraley

A suspect who authorities say purposely started two fires Wednesday at the Trump International Hotel using toasters told investigators that he hadn’t slept the previous night and wanted to see what kind of mischief he could get into, according to a Metro Police arrest report.

Investigators don’t believe Roger Fraley’s alleged acts were politically motivated, police said. The 28-year-old Friday afternoon remained at the Clark County Detention Center on a $10,000 bail.

Firefighters were called to the hotel about 4:30 p.m. where they encountered two fires — one on a pool deck and the other two floors above, in a 17th floor hallway, police said. They’d originated from toasters, paper products and towels.

A hotel employee who’d seen Fraley walk away from a restricted area with toasters alerted security, police said.

A struggle ensued, but they were able to take him into custody, police said. A security guard suffered minor injuries during the apprehension.

In interviews with investigators with the Clark County Fire Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Metro, Fraley initially denied his involvement in the fires but then said that he’d wandered into the hotel after being awake for an undetermined number of hours, and found toasters.

He wanted to see what kind of trouble he could get into, adding that he’d heard people talk about him all day and that he was burnt out from being out in the sun, police said.

After he’d found the toasters, Fraley said an “idea came to him,” but he didn’t expound, only adding that “you guys have me on camera.”

This wasn’t the first time Fraley has allegedly caused mischief in a Las Vegas hotel. According to court documents, in November 2014 he was arrested at the Hard Rock Hotel after security said he’d stolen a golf cart.

When he was taken into custody, Metro officers found 2.8 grams of cocaine on him, documents show. The hotel didn’t press charges for the cart, but he was charged with drug possession.

Fraley pleaded guilty on a lesser charge and the case was dropped in December 2015.

In the recent case, Fraley is facing one count each of fourth-degree arson and burglary, court records show. On Friday he remained in custody on the burglary count, jail records show.