Trevor Lee Grundmeier

A Blackduck man has now been charged with felony second-degree arson after setting his apartment building on fire.

According to the criminal complaint, on Sunday, March 28, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a arson fire at the Midtown Apartments in Blackduck. A 911 caller reported that 44-year-old Trevor Lee Grundmeier had started a fire and was trying to burn down the apartment building.

The caller/witness stated that earlier that day, he and Grundmeier had been drinking in his apartment until Grundmeier became intolerable. The witness was able to get Grundmeier out of his apartment, but just a few moments later he heard Grundmeier in the hallway talking about starting fires.

When the witness opened his apartment door, he saw that Grundmeier used some sort of accelerant to set the carpet on fire in front of his door. The witness said he then threw water on the flames which caused the fire to spread. He further observed Grundmeier in the hallway with a can of Zippo-style lighter fluid and a cup of what he thought was cooking oil, and he told deputies that Grundmeier was trying to start an oil fire.

Additionally, court documents state that Grundmeier had run to the fire hall located on Main Street where he allegedly entered the building through an open overhead garage door, climbed into a parked firetruck, and attempted to drive away. Firefighters were able to use a master power switch to disable the truck.

Grundmeier is currently being held at the Beltrami County Jail.

By — Destiny Wiggins