Illinois man accused of setting comforter on fire at Audrain County hotel parking lot

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Illinois man was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors after he allegedly assaulted someone in an Audrain County parking lot and set a comforter on fire on Thursday morning.

Edwin Javier Mejia-Espinosa, of Decatur, Illinois, was charged in Audrain County with knowingly burning or exploding, third-degree assault and three misdemeanors: Second-degree property damage, fourth-degree assault and second-degree tampering with property. He is being held without bond. A hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says police were called at 8:15 a.m. Thursday to a Mexico hotel.

The owner allegedly told police that Mejia-Espinosa – who was a guest at the hotel – had set a comforter on fire in the hotel’s parking lot. The owner allegedly told Mejia-Espinosa that he would call police and Mejia-Espinosa took the victim’s phone and threw it on the ground before assaulting the victim, the statement says.

Mejia-Espinosa was then allegedly found at a nearby business after he stole a customer’s car keys, court documents allege.