Veterans home resident jailed for arson

SPRINGFIELD, Mich. (WOOD) - A resident of the Legion Villa Home for Veterans is accused of intentionally setting a fire at the residence.

Gregory Chandler, 59, was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a felony arson charge.

It's the fourth time Chandler has been a resident at Legion Villa, a home that caters to hard-to-place veterans.

The Springfield Department of Public Safety, Battle Creek Fire Department, and Air National Guard arrived and put out the fire, which was contained to one room. The damage is estimated at $15,000.

Sixteen other residents were evacuated from the building at 109 Evergreen Road in Springfield at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. No one was hurt.

Mike Campbell, the director of Legion Villa, told 24 Hour News 8 Chandler went to another resident Tuesday night with a bizarre story.

"He said that a cat had been in his room and stole his jeans and he was getting really manicky and he told this guy that if he doesn't get things straight he was going to burn the place down," Chandler said.

About 10 minutes later, that resident smelled smoke.

If convicted, Chandler faces up to 20 years. He's being held on a $50,000 bond because of his criminal past.