Vernal man in court on arson charges

A Vernal man who police say burglarized two businesses and then set fire to one of them made his first court appearance Monday.

Chad A. Eldredge, 18, is charged with arson, burglary, attempted burglary, theft, unlawful possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor and possession of tobacco by a minor.

Vernal police officer Troy Davis, in a probable cause statement, said he spotted smoke coming from the area of 500 W. Main in Vernal at about 1:20 a.m. on Thursday and went to investigate. Davis said he found heavy smoke pouring out of the shattered windows of the New Look Salon and spotted Eldredge walking along the sidewalk nearby.

The officer said Eldredge smelled of alcohol and had blood on his clothing. The teen said he had gone to investigate the smoke coming from the salon and cut his finger on the broken glass, Davis said, noting that Eldredge also was bleeding heavily from a cut on his right ankle.

Eldredge was ordered to empty his bulging pockets, and the officer said he counted $163.64 in loose bills and change covered in hair clippings. He also found a green lighter, a small flask of whiskey, a can of chewing tobacco and two cell phones.

Another officer checked Jiffy Pawn, which neighbors the salon, and found that it had been burglarized, as well. Davis said there was blood on the broken glass in Jiffy Pawn's store front.

After placing Eldredge in handcuffs, Davis said the teen began "making statements" to him. The officer said he stopped Eldredge, advised him of his rights, and then asked if he still wanted to talk.

"He said that he was upset over a girlfriend," Davis wrote in his statement. "He said he broke into the salon because he needed money. ... He said he started the fire because he did not want to leave any evidence behind."

Davis said Eldredge told him that after setting the fire in the salon he broke out the glass at Jiffy Pawn, intending to enter the store to search for more money. Eldredge allegedly told the officer he changed his mind after spotting his patrol car pulling into the parking lot.

Eldredge was taken to Ashley Regional Medical Center by ambulance for stitches to his leg. He was then booked into the Uintah County Jail.

Eldredge's bail was reduced to $8,000 at Monday's hearing, and a public defender was appointed to represent him. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 14.

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E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com