A brazen case of arson has shaken the residents of St. Louis County, as a man has been accused of setting fires at a hotel near Ferguson, Missouri.
Brandon Dallas Smith, 40, is now facing an arson charge, punishable by at least five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, after allegedly setting a fire at a hotel in the 2700 block of Target Drive on March 26, 2025.
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in St. Louis the day after the fire says patrons were awakened by a fire alarm at 2:48 a.m. to find two fires in front of hotel rooms and a third on the second-floor stairwell.
The complaint alleges that Smith purchased gasoline a nearby gas station and convenience store shortly before going to the hotel and setting the fires.
According to the indictment, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis County Police, and the St. Louis County Bomb and Arson Squad investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case, and Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation and prosecution of this case highlight the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies in combating violent crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Ricky Smith, Carjacking, Missouri 2019 · Missouri
- Christopher A. Durant, Arson, Missouri 2023 · Kansas
- Damian Smith-Birge, Interstate Threats, Missouri 2021 · Pennsylvania
- Jermanine Smith, Armed Carjacking, Missouri 2022 · Missouri
- Jermanine Smith, Carjacking, Missouri 2022 · Missouri
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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