Denver Arson Suspect Was Former Business Partner, Report Says

DENVER, CO -- A determination of first-degree arson was filed for a July fire at a warehouse in the 2000 block of Dahlia Street in Denver. Oleg Sluchak, 41, was charged with pouring gasoline on the floor of an office of a former business associate and setting it on fire. The occupant of the office suffered burns and was transported to Swedish Hospital. Sluchak appeared in Denver Co. Criminal Court Sept. 20.

According to an arrest affidavit, signs of arson included fire patterns in the carpet consistent with ignitable fluid, the smell of gasoline, a burned, red gasoline can and the activation of the sprinkler system.

In an interview from the hospital, the owner of the office said he was working late around 9 p.m. July 14, when he heard a "whoosh" and realized a burning red gas can was inside his office, on fire, and that fire was burning the floors of his office. The man said he burned his hands throwing the gas can out of the office, and then returned to try to stomp out the flames, but his leg caught fire. He then rolled on the grass outside the office to extinguish the flames. Ceiling sprinklers had activated when he returned to the office to salvage important documents, he said.

The victim identified Sluchak as a "disgruntled business associate" who owed him money and told fire investigators Sluchak was the only person he could think of who might start the fire.

A witness observed a gray, 2005 Ford Escape SUV and provided a partial license plate number. She said she observed a man fitting Sluchak's description wearing a hooded sweatshirt running from the building. Surveillance video showed a man parking a grey SUV across the street from the building, then walking to the office suite holding a red plastic gas can, which he ignited on the way to the office. The victim identified Sluchak as the man in the video, even though his face was obscured by the hoodie.

Detectives tracked down the SUV, which had been borrowed by Sluchak from a friend. They took Sluchak into custody July 19.

Sluchak's next court date is scheduled for Nov. 1.