INDIANAPOLIS – A Beech Grove man was arrested Monday in Indianapolis on federal criminal charges related to his alleged setting fire to two buildings at the Amtrak Beech Grove shop complex early on May 2, 2021.
According to court documents, on the night of May 1, 2021, Casey Sage, 34, trespassed onto the grounds of the facility. Surveillance video captured Sage as he moved around. Then, in the early morning hours of May 2, he entered two storage buildings containing various flammable or hazardous chemicals and other materials. Sage ignited each building and its contents using railroad flares he picked up at the site. Both buildings quickly erupted in flames, and video surveillance captured several explosions and flying debris as first responders arrived and fought the flames. The buildings and their contents were destroyed, and Amtrak has estimated that the fires resulted in approximately $1 million in damages.
“Mr. Sage committed a violent and dangerous criminal act,” says Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “By burning down two buildings containing flammable and hazardous materials, Sage not only destroyed public property, he exposed first responders and Amtrak employees to a substantial risk of serious injury. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners’ quick response to the scene and their speedy efforts to investigate this case.”
“Today’s actions represent our commitment to pursuing every avenue possible to seek justice and hold accountable those who perpetrate extremely dangerous crimes like arson,” says Basil Demczak, the Special Agent in Charge of Amtrak Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “These crimes not only put Amtrak’s property at risk but could have jeopardized the lives of Amtrak employees and first responders. We appreciate the seamless collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as the sustained professionalism exhibited by our investigative staff and partner agencies throughout the investigation.”
“Working with our law enforcement partners, this investigation led to the arrest of a criminal who by his actions risked the lives of first responders and Amtrak employees,” says Amtrak Police Chief Sam Dotson. “This joint investigation was thorough and resulted in the arrest of an arsonist who caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to equipment and property.”
Sage is charged with arson. If convicted, he faces 5 to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Certainly the punishment should be to the fullest extent of the law. But now a thought that has bothered me for years.. Why maintain the Beach Grove facility considering it is in a state that could not care less about Amtrak.
Of course Amtrak has invested millions and millions into this shop complex; but with Wall Street now running railroads there has to be shops in Amtrak friendly states that are available. Just a thought.
Placing persons at risk demands the harshest sentence available. Hopefully the jury will find the perpetrator guilty in both arson counts. If Indiana statutes permit, I hope that the judge will be able to sentence the criminal for each of the two separate fires he allegedly started: 20 years for each building, to run consecutively, with possible parole, if available, set as close to the ending of each sentence as possible.