Benjamin Clinton Jackson
An Alabama man damaged a room at the Days Inn on Shallowford Village Drive with a butane torch, causing all the guests to have to evacuate, police said.
The manager said Benjamin Clinton Jackson did $1,000 in damage to a bathroom wall. He said there was an $8,000 lost when many guests left during the Friday night incident.
Jackson, 30, of Creola, Ala., was charged with arson, vandalism and disorderly conduct.
Police responded to the hotel at 9:34 p.m. after reports of smoke and a strange smell coming from room 102. No one responded to a knock on the door so police went inside.
The bathroom door was locked with the water running. When police knocked, a man who was lying on the floor opened the door.
The man had a butane torch next to him. A large portion of the vinyl wall was also near him with a large fresh burn mark on it. There were several burn marks in the sink.
The man was removed from the room and fire and EMS were called.
The man said he was high on meth and said there was a possible meth lab inside. Police did not find a meth lab.
An officer at the scene began experiencing symptoms of exposure to dangerous chemicals and had to be transported to an emergency room.
Units from three fire stations came, as well as two EMS units.
At 10 p.m., the entire hotel staff and guests were removed from their rooms - some still asleep. They were required to stay outside until conditions were safe.
At 11:45 p.m., guests were allowed to return to their rooms.