Michigan City man accused of arson at apartment complex

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - A Michigan City man was arrested on arson charges during an investigation into two vehicle fires at an apartment complex, according to the Michigan City Police Department.

At 1:19 a.m. on October 1, dispatch received a call about a vehicle fire at the Garden Estates West apartment complex.

At the scene, officers found one vehicle engulfed in flames and another that caught fire nearby.

The Michigan City Fire Department put out the flames and police began reviewing video surveillance from the area.

On the video, officers discovered a person acting suspicious next to the two vehicle that caught fire, reports said.

With the help of video and the public, officers soon identified the man as 70-year-old James Bowlby, who was detained at the apartment complex and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Enough evidence was gathered to arrest Bowlby on two counts of arson.

During a search warrant at Bowlby's home, officers found additional evidence connected to the investigation, according to reports.

Bowlby is being held at the La Porte County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond.

The Michigan City Police Department Investigative Division is looking into other suspicious vehicle fires within the same complex, reports said.

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