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Man charged with starting fire at Occupy Austin camp
Police have arrested a man accused of starting a fire early Thursday at the Occupy Austin camp outside of City Hall.
Robert Alex Mittenholzer, 29, was charged with criminal mischief and bail was set at $5,000, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Witnesses told police they heard Mittenholzer saying he was going to build a bonfire to keep warm and that it would be OK because “this was a concrete jungle,” the affidavit said. Firefighters arrived at the area about 3:15 a.m. and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, the document said.
Damage to the property was estimated at $5,700, according to court records.
In a news release, Occupy Austin said the man was not involved with its movement and that several demonstrators had requested that the police arrest or remove him from the area earlier in the evening.
Organizers said they hoped Austin Police would be more responsive to the medical, psychiatric and shelter needs of the indigent community.
“Numerous incidents of non-Occupy individuals threatening violence and/or damaging Occupy and City property have been met with little response from police who are often not found on the outside premises but are staying inside the building,” the statement said.
