South Bend arson suspect expected in court on Monday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Brandon Mortiz is due in court on Monday after being accused of pouring gas on a house on Ardmore Trail in South Bend and setting it on fire.

Witnesses say they saw Mortiz start the fire in addition to changing his clothes.

Mortiz however denied those claims, telling South Bend police officers that he was tending a fire pit in a backyard.

Police say there was no evidence of a fire recently taking place in the backyard.