A joint investigation between the Indiana State Police and the State Fire Marshall’s Office into last week’s fire that destroyed a Birdseye landmark has resulted in the arrest of a Birdseye man on a number of charges including arson.
Indiana State Police say Detective Brock Werne Monday afternoon was investigating a complaint of residential entry and theft in the Birdseye area.
Police say information received by Werne led him to investigate 36-year-old Adam Hensley of Birdseye as a primary suspect.
Police say at the same time, the State Fire Marshall’s Office was actively investigating the fire at the Koerner Block building located along at 101/103 State Road 145, Birdseye.
Since the fire took place investigators believed it had been maliciously set, and were also looking for Hensley as a possible suspect in that incident.
Hensley was later found and was placed into custody on a Level 6 Felony count of Residential Entry and a Misdemeanor count of Criminal Mischief and was taken to the Dubois County Security Center in Jasper.
At the Security Center, Hensley was also booked on a Level 4 Felony count of Arson based on the additional information found through the investigation of the Fire Marshall’s Office.
It was determined that Hensley set the fire to the Koerner Block building, escaped from the blaze, and had a witness at the scene dial 911.
Hensley is set to appear in Dubois County Circuit Court today.
