Theater Fire Suspect Charged with Arson

This story has been updated.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI – A Dearborn Heights man was charged with two counts of felony arson Monday after allegedly starting two fires at a Farmington Hills movie theater during an early Saturday morning showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” police said.

Farmington Hills Police Commander Mike Ciaramitaro said the fires weren’t related to hype surrounding the nationwide opening of the film. “Anyone who starts fires has issues,” he said, ”and some people have more issues than others.”

The suspect, Nicholas Glenn Chelar, 24, “did not give us information or speak much about why he did it,” Ciaramitaro told Patch.

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About 20 people inside the Riviera Cinema at 30170 Grand Ave. at 1:51 a.m. when fire alarms activated were safely evacuated without incident.

Farmington Hills police and fire departments discovered light smoke on the second floor and found that someone had attempted to start a fire in two locations in the second-floor projector room.

Patrons had been safely evacuated after the theater’s alarm sounded, police said. No one was injured and damage to the theater was minimal.

Police said Chelar left the theater during the movie and entered the projector room, where he allegedly started the fires. He was arrested at a Farmington HIlls residence.

Chelar was arraigned Monday on charges of third-degree arson, a 10-year-felony, and larceny in a building, a four-year-felony, in 47th District Court. Magistrate Matthew Friedrich set bond at $200,000 cash.

His preliminary exam is set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30 before 47th District Judge Marla Parker.