Hearing continued in arson case
A continued preliminary hearing for a Washington man accused of arson ended in a trip to a local hospital.
Several witnesses failed to appear for Anthony Montgomery’s hearing Wednesday in front of Magisterial District Judge Larry W. Hopkins.
Displeased with the way the hearing went, Montgomery became agitated, Washington County Sheriff Sam Romano said. Deputies then took Montgomery to a holding cell within the courthouse, where Romano said he kicked a deputy in the chest.
“He didn’t like the court’s ruling, and was placed in a holding cell where he began to bang his head on a wall,” Romano said. “The deputies went in to restrain him, and he kicked a deputy in the chest.”
Romano said the deputy was not injured. Montgomery was taken to a local hospital for a wrist injury, and will likely face additional charges, Romano said.
Montgomery, 20, is accused of setting the home of a female acquaintance along the 700 block of Ewing Street in Washington on fire Nov.19. A woman who identified herself as Montgomery’s aunt, Brenda Clutter, was inside the home when the fire was set about 4:30 p.m. Clutter managed to escape before the house was engulfed in flames.
Witnesses reported seeing Montgomery place items in a garbage can, light the items on fire, place the can against a door to the home and run off. He was arrested later that evening on Green Street. Washington police said Montgomery had a gas can in his possession and had a strong odor of gasoline about him. His clothes were taken as evidence.
Clutter said the home belongs to Rosella Milchak, and that her nephew was having problems with another woman who lived in the home. That woman told police that Montgomery saw her and another man at the Washington Crown Center mall and became jealous, Washington police Chief Chris Luppino said. The woman also told police that Montgomery then threatened to burn down her house.
Montgomery has been charged with arson and recklessly endangering another person. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for Dec. 11.
Montgomery remains in the Washington County jail on a $100,000 bond.