ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (O&B) — A fire broke out Thursday in downtown Fort Wayne after a man reportedly crafted a Molotov cocktail, ignited the elevator of the Markey Bonding building, and attempted to flee by climbing out a window — only to fall during his escape.
Emmanuel K. Collier, 41, is facing preliminary charges including two counts of Arson, Criminal Mischief, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Arson with Bodily Injury. He also faces an additional charge for the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of a destructive device.
According to court documents, police responded to reports of a person on the roof and a structure fire. Upon arrival, a witness told officers they saw a Black man scaling the building’s west wall using the natural gas plumbing.
Fort Wayne police entered the building and found thick smoke when they opened the stairwell door. On the third floor, they located Collier. He ignored their commands, broke through a window, and slid down a building sign. He then lowered himself onto a canopy but lost his grip and fell into decorative planter boxes below.
Officers took him into custody after the fall and transported him to a nearby hospital for treatment. Collier denied starting the fire and requested a lawyer.
Court records state Collier entered the building through a hole in the old elevator floor. He allegedly poured liquid from a can labeled “tape primer” down the shaft and then assembled a Molotov cocktail using a metal can, an unknown substance, and a cloth. He threw the device down the shaft, sparking the fire.
Court documents detail that Collier “knowingly and intentionally” used fire to damage property, endangering lives and causing injury to two Fort Wayne officers. His use of an incendiary device put not only the structure’s occupants at risk but also those in adjacent buildings.
Collier remains in custody at the Allen County Jail. His initial court appearance is scheduled for June 17.
