Man accused of throwing lit backpack on roof charged with arson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with two felonies after he allegedly set a backpack on fire and threw it on top of a home on Paris Road last month.

Brandon Butchkoski, 47, was charged on Monday with first-degree arson and drug possession. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and had a hearing on Monday afternoon. Police announced Butchkoski’s arrest on Friday morning.

The probable cause statement says that someone knocked on the victim’s door on June 29 to say their roof was on fire and the victim was able to put it out with a hose. There was a cleaner bottle, drink container and latex gloves filled with gasoline inside the backpack, the statement says.

Butchkoski was found in the area but was initially let go because of a lack of evidence, court documents say.

He was later seen on RING video throwing the backpack on the roof of the house, the statement says.