Man charged with setting fire at Dayton’s old home

Published 3:56 pm Wednesday, July 27, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 29-year-old man is charged with setting fire to a Minneapolis home once owned by Gov. Mark Dayton — a crime the Hennepin County Attorney’s office says was random.

Jeron Latiff Patterson of Minneapolis is charged with first-degree arson.

According to the complaint, investigators traced back to Patterson a new rolling suitcase, plastic gas cans, lighter fluid bottles and grill lighters that were found outside the home. The complaint also says Patterson is seen in security video filling a gas can at a SuperAmerica station.

The current homeowner found three fires early on July 2 and put them out. Dayton had not lived at the home for 20 years.

Patterson remains in jail with bail set at $60,000. His attorney did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday.