By rssfeeds-admin 
Donnie Woosley is facing multiple felony counts of arson for his alleged role in six separate arson incidents throughout January. He is also facing an additional criminal mischief charge after allegedly cutting wires to a life alert system at an apartment complex for seniors later in the month.
On Jan. 1, firefighters with the Indianapolis Fire Department were called shortly after 1 p.m. to 1301 S. Keystone Avenue in response to a building fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene and soon learned that the address belonged to Tyson Foods.
First responders reported observing thick smoke emanating from the western portion of the building. Investigators soon determined that the fire was “incendiary” and was set to be investigated as an arson, court documents said.
The fire is estimated to have caused around $160,000 in damages, police said. Investigators also recovered blue pieces of burnt plastic in the area they determined was the fire’s origin, according to court documents.
Three days later, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to the same address after a Tyson employee reported observing an individual, who was later identified as Woosley, insert paper in a vehicle’s gas tank opening and attempt to ignite it.
As officers were en route, they received another call stating the same individual had returned and allegedly tried to set a semi-truck on fire.
As officers and firefighters were on the scene, Woosley reportedly emerged from underneath a bridge near Keystone Avenue and Pleasant Run Parkway and began yelling at the employees and firefighters.
Police noted that Woosley matched the provided description of the suspect who employees said was reportedly responsible for the fires. When he was detained by police on the scene, court documents stated Woosley had an active warrant calling for his arrest.
Woosley was brought to the Community Justice Center where he was later released after he reportedly became ill, according to court documents. He was transported to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment.
As part of the investigation into the incident, a fire investigator visited Tyson Foods again on Jan. 7 and spoke with an employee. This employee reportedly shared footage that was recorded at the business highlighting multiple arson incidents that allegedly involved Woosley.
One of these videos showed Woosley as he allegedly walked toward a semi-truck around 10:50 p.m. on Jan. 3 that was parked near the gate of the business. Court documents noted that Woosley briefly left the camera view as he walked around the semi. Around one minute later, the semi began to move after a milk crate was reportedly set on fire next to the semi.
While the fire itself was out of the camera’s view, court documents showed that business employees could be seen searching for the suspect with flashlights.
The following day, camera footage showed Woosley as he was walking around 2:54 a.m. near the guard shack at the entrance and exit of the fenced Tyson lot. Court documents said he could be seen appearing to hold a milk crate that was on fire that he tried to put in front of the guard shack door.
A guard that was on duty at the time proceeded to head to the back of the guard rack before Woosley managed to run away out of the camera’s view, court documents said.
The final video investigators reviewed allegedly showed Woosley as he walked on the east side of the business on Jan. 1 at 12:20 p.m. As he approached the Tyson Foods’ warehouse, court documents noted that he appeared to be staring at the west side of the business.
The origin of the fire on the west side of the warehouse matched the area Woosley was seen allegedly walking away from around 12:23 p.m.
The investigator also recovered several items at the warehouse, including two fire-damaged crates, a fire extinguisher and a black zip-up bag.
Woosley’s interview
Woosley was found by officers on Feb. 3 as he was walking on Prospect Street. Court documents show that he was detained and brought in for questioning. When he was asked about his alleged role in the arson incidents at Tyson, Woosley stated that he had been “drugged” during the previous week and couldn’t remember anything.
When he was questioned a second time, Woosley allegedly told police that he had visited Tyson Foods on several occasions in the past, saying he would use it as a shortcut.
Woosley went on to claim that he approached the parked semi truck because he wanted to confront a semi-driver who had “almost hit him” while he was riding his bicycle.
He added that he had a plastic crate in his hands to build a fire, court documents said. When he was asked why he threw the flaming crate at the semi, Woosley allegedly claimed that he “didn’t know that it was on fire.”
Woosley went on to reportedly state that he could not have caused the fire on Jan. 1 because he was booked in the Marion County Jail. Woosley eventually admitted that he did throw a flaming crate at the building but maintained that he was not trying to set it on fire intentionally, court documents said.
“If I threw one (at the building) and it did catch on fire, it was a total accident,” Woosley said.
Woosley went on to add that he did intentionally try to catch the semi-truck on fire, saying “I meant that one,” court documents showed.
The investigator then began asking about a fire that was started in front of a guard shack at the warehouse. Woosley allegedly admitted to approaching the guard shack as he wanted to speak with someone about the semi-driver. Woosley continued to ignore the questions on why he had allegedly placed a crate that was on fire in front of the guard shack door.
The interview continued until Woosley became “emotional and upset,” court documents stated. Woosley shared that the fire at the warehouse was an “accident” and that he only intended to take his anger out on the semi.
Woosley added that he collected the crates from gas stations around the city and that he would use them to stay warm since they do not produce a large amount of smoke when they are lit on fire.
The interview reportedly concluded with Woosley stating that he would cover the damage costs.
“I’ll pay for all the damages. I work my a** off. If I did do the damage to the side of the building, I’m sorry about it,” Woosley said.
Additional charges
Court documents show that Woosley is also facing arson and criminal mischief charges in a separate case after allegedly removing the wires to a life alert system at Spurce Manor Apartments, an apartment complex for seniors.
An IMPD officer responded to 1840 Perkins Avenue on Jan. 24 in response to a vandalism report. The responding officer spoke with the complex manager who shared surveillance footage of the reported incident.
The footage centered on a man, who police identified as Woosley, walking on the second floor of the facility and appearing to disconnect the life alert wires.
“These wires connect the life alert/medical alerts to every room in the complex which is similar to a nursing home,” court documents said. “These systems are used in case of a resident having a medical emergency.”
While they were investigating, detectives learned that Woosley was a suspect in three prior arsons at the same location earlier in the month.
Woosley could be seen allegedly bending over and using a knife to “cut and pull wires from the wall,” according to court documents.
Police were informed by the complex manager that it would cost around $1,000 to replace the Life Alert System.
“Approximately 148 total residents living at Spruce Manor Apartments at the time of this incident that would have been unable to quickly contact lifesaving services during the outage,” court documents said.
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