Longmont firefighters tackle arsonist

Firefighters responding to a call at a Longmont hardware store Saturday night encountered a suspect inside the building as he was setting fires, according to a release from the Longmont Police and Fire departments.

Crews were called to a fire alarm at the Budget Home Supply on Boston Ave at about 11:30 p.m. reported our partners at KUSA. Upon arrival, they found smoke inside. While extinguishing the fires, crews located a suspect still inside setting fires.

“This was a first for us,” said Longmont Chief of Fire Jerrod Vanlandingham to our partners at KUSA. “You don’t typically expect to encounter an arsonist lighting fires at the time you are trying to extinguish them.”

The firefighters subdued the suspect and escorted him outside the building to waiting police officers.

“Our crews had little choice but to tackle the suspect, subdue him and drag him out of the building to awaiting police officers,” Vanlandingham said. “These firefighters went above and beyond their call of duty by taking these actions, but most likely saved lives and property in doing so.”

The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Michael Schrodt, was arrested and taken to the Boulder County Jail. He faces the following charges:

Criminal mischief > $100,000 First-degree arson Second-degree burglary Reckless endangerment

Five ignition points were found inside the building. No additional suspects were located and no injuries were reported.