Suspect Accused Of Dragging Officer, Lighting Apartment Building On Fire
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Police have identified the suspect accused of setting a Lakewood apartment building on fire during a police chase.
Officers arrested Brandon Besson, 28, on charges that include attempted murder, assault on a police officer, burglary, and arson.
Besson allegedly fled from a traffic stop and then ran into the four-plex that went up in flames on Friday.
At the building on Saturday, CBS4's Melissa Garcia spoke with residents who went back to see their apartments for the first time since the blaze. Resident Todd Garnell walked into his unit to find that none of his belongings could be salvaged.
"This is what's left of my home," said Garnell of the charred living space.
Garnell was inside the building when police say Besson went in and started the fire.
"All of a sudden, the smoke started rolling through the door, and the whole apartment filled with smoke upstairs, so we were forced to come out," said Garnell.
Police said that a chain of crimes began when officers pulled Besson over for a traffic stop near West 14th Avenue and Lamar Street in Lakewood. Authorities said that after pulling over, Besson drove off, dragging an officer.
Six blocks away on 14th Avenue and Saulsbury Street, Besson reportedly entered the apartment building and set it ablaze.
"He lit the place on fire and ran out the front door over there. And that's when they got him," said Garnell.
Officers took Besson down less than a block away after a brief chase on foot.
"In my 10-year career, I haven't seen a traffic stop develop the way it did last night, leading to the driver running into a building, that building catching on fire, and then a foot-chase," said Sgt. T.J. Jacobson, a spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department.
Two officers were injured. Both were treated and released from an area hospital.
Garnell said that he and his neighbors will need to find a new place to live.
A background check shows that Besson has a lengthy criminal history. When police caught him, Besson had four outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
