A 36-year-old man has been charged with setting the Commerce City stable fire that killed a dozen horses and a goat.
Narciso Amaya-Bustillos has been charged with one count of first-degree arson, 13 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of criminal mischief, according to Adams County District Attorney Don Quick.
All are felonies.
Commerce City officers and the South Adams Fire Department were called to the blaze at 8468 Unita St. about 3:20 p.m. on May 9.
The stable was fully engulfed in flames and a number of people were trying to save the animals.
Amaya-Bustillos was seen fleeing the scene, according to a joint statement by Quick and Commerce City Police Chief Phil Baca.
Three days later, on May 12, Amaya-Bustillos was at the stable and sustained serious injuries as he was attempting to leave, according to the statement.
He was hospitalized. On May 22 he was arrested by Commerce City police.
Amaya-Bustillos is scheduled to appear in court on May 26.Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
