A Buford man is facing charges for allegedly setting two vehicles on fire Sunday at a Buford storage facility, and authorities say they nabbed him thanks in part to his return to the scene of the crime.
Nicholas Minardi, 21, of Buford is accused of setting fire to the vehicles on opposite ends of the complex — along with two storage units — around 7 p.m. at Buford Superior Self Storage on French Boulevard NE, according to Tommy Rutledge, Gwinnett County Fire Department spokesman.
The facility's owner called 911, reporting a "popping" sound and finding smoke.
"Fire investigators were able to identify Minardi through video surveillance footage obtained from the business," said Rutledge in a news release.
"In a strange twist, Minardi actually returned to the scene Monday evening under the guise that he was checking on his girlfriend’s property to see if it was okay. He claimed that he heard about the fire in the news, which wasn’t true based on the fact that the fire department had not yet issued a media release about the incident."
The manager got Minardi's tag number, which helped lead authorities to him.
Minardi faces two counts of second-degree arson, two counts of criminal trespass and one count each of criminal damage to property, entering auto and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
"According to Fire investigators, Minardi unlawfully entered the property with the intent to commit theft and cause damage to property. He gained access to a van and stole loose change, but did not set the van on fire," said Rutledge.
He set the two vehicle on fire, which then spread to two nearby units. Nobody was injured in the blaze.
