Columbia man charged with arson after vehicle fires

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County prosecutor has charged a Columbia man after he allegedly set a vehicle on fire that caused damage to another vehicle on Friday morning.

Leslie Williams is charged with two counts of second-degree arson and two counts of second-degree tampering with property.

On Friday morning, the Columbia Fire Department responded to multiple vehicle fires at the Extended Stay America Hotel on the business loop.

Once on scene, police responded to help and found a Jeep Renegade that was a complete loss and a Dodge Charger that had damage to a door.

The victims showed police that Williams contacted the victims and threatened to “get them,” according to court documents.

A witness told police that a maroon vehicle drove off and then the vehicle fire occurred. Detectives then got video footage of the same vehicle driving off from the scene.

The victim told police that Williams was driving the maroon vehicle.

After being taken into custody, Williams admitted to police he had been driving the maroon vehicle on the night of the fire.

Williams is in the Boone County Jail being held without bond.

Williams has a confined docket hearing scheduled for Feb. 9 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 3.