A 56-year-old Longmont man suspected of setting fire to a Longmont house on Sunday was arrested Wednesday morning in Jackson, Wyo., after he allegedly set fire to a motel there.
Longmont Police Cmdr. Tim Lewis said that at approximately 1:45 a.m. today, a fire broke out in the room in the Teton Gables Motel in Jackson which Charles William Millen was renting.
Lewis said that 40 people were staying at the motel.
Although thick black smoke filled Millen’s room, the other motel occupants were able to escape without injury, according to Capt. Scott Terry of the Teton County, Wyo. Sheriff’s Office.
Wyoming authorities checking the motel register found the room was registered to Millen and recognized his name as being on a law enforcement bulletin issued by Longmont police.
They immediately launched a search for Millen who was pulled over by deputies about 3:15 a.m. today.
Lewis said Longmont has sent investigators to Jackson as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving Colorado and Wyoming investigators and federal agents.
Lewis said the fire at 1029 Terry St. in Longmont occurred about 10:10 p.m. Sunday and culminated a dispute between Millen and two roommates, who were not home at the time of the fire.
Lewis said that Millen, who “obviously was not happy with the situation” allegedly poured accelerant on the main floor of the tri-level house and lit the fire.
Longmont notified Wyoming authorities because that is where Millen fled after he burned down a Total gas station he was managing at Interstate 25 and Colorado 119 in 1999.
Millen also robbed the gas station safe of $2,300, said Lewis, adding that Millen had a dispute with senior managers of Total.
Millen received a 12-year prison term but was released early and had been living in Longmont, Lewis said. He was working at a dairy near Longmont and was described as an excellent employee.
Lewis said that people who know Millen describe him as a “gentle giant.”
Terry of the Teton County, Wyo. Sheriff’s Office said that one of his deputies, Kurt Drumheller, saw thick black smoke in Millen’s room when he arrived. Fearing that there were occupants in the room, Drumheller kicked down the door, then crawled through the room searching for occupants. Finding none, he then went outside and began evacuating the other people staying at the motel.
Terry said that Drumheller believed the fire was intentionally set, checked the guest registration and immediately recognized that the occupant – Millen – was wanted by Longmont police.
Terry said that Drumheller sent out a law enforcement bulletin and at 3:15 a.m., Millen was apprehended by Sublette County, Wyo., sheriff deputies.
The occupants of the Jackson motel were able to return to their rooms at 3 a.m.
With the exception of light smoke damage, damages were contained to the one room and the loss is estimated to be about $5,000, said Terry.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
