Published: November 20, 2008 10:42 pm      

Police: Homeless man starts fire in attic of vacant house to keep warm

A homeless man trying to stay warm Thursday night broke into a vacant house and started a fire in the attic, Beckley police said.

Cpl. Jamie Blume and Patrolman Morgan Bragg responded to a trespassing complaint at 200 Willow Lane. Blume said they checked the premises and found the doors secured, but they heard a disturbance inside.

They entered the house and found William Elliott, 60, in the third-floor attic, Blume said. Elliott was taken into custody.

While trying to stay warm, Elliott started a fire in the attic, Blume said. Elliott is believed to have kept a piece of metal between the fire and the floor. Nevertheless, smoke spread through the house. Blume extinguished the fire, but called the Beckley Fire Department to the scene as a precaution. No serious damage was done to the house.

Elliott, Blume said, is a psychiatric patient who has a history of similar incidents. Due to his condition, he may or may not be charged with trespassing and breaking and entering. Elliott was taken to the Pinehaven Homeless Shelter, where he will be out of the cold and cared for.

Blume said the house was vacant and in a state of disrepair, but the owner is working to renovate it.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com