The Fall River Fire Department evacuated an apartment building Sunday evening, responding to a fire suspected to have started with a loose cigarette. A man police think is responsible was arrested and is facing criminal charges.
Hillard Szlapka, 62, appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on Monday facing charges of misdemeanor negligent handling of burning material, misdemeanor resisting an officer and felony threatening a law enforcement officer.
According to the criminal complaint, the Fall River Police Department dispatched an officer at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday to an apartment building on Main Street, where there had been reports of a smell of smoke in the building.