Bedford Municipal Court officials say David Chislton is being held on $1 million bond following Monday's incidents in Warrensville Heights.
Chislton was charged with one count of inducing panic, one count of having weapons under disability, one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, one count of arson and two counts of domestic violence. He appeared before Judge Brian J. Melling and his next court date is a pretrial at 10 a.m. April 13.
Authorities responded to a domestic violence situation that turned into a raging fire at the Miles Landing apartment complex on Banbury Circle in Warrensville Heights on Monday.
According to police, the incident began with an argument between Chislton and a girlfriend around 2 p.m. The girlfriend was able to get away safely, but Chislton barricaded himself in the building, threatening to harm himself and others, officials said.
“It could have been quite tragic, but she was able to get away and alert us to what was going on,” said Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers.
Police tried to have him come out peacefully, but he refused. The Valley Enforcement Group's SWAT team was then called to the scene.
According to officials, Chislton set a fire to the second floor unit about 3 p.m. before being caught by the VEG tactical team and taken into custody.
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