Safety officer charged with arson

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - The Tippecanoe prosecutor has charged a Purdue student safety patrol officer with arson. 

22-year-old Isaiah Peedin is accused of starting two fires on October 19 at the Elliott Hall of Music.

Court documents said Peedin first told police he was on fire watch duty when he noticed flames coming from a basement bulletin board and saw a man drop a sock hat and lighter as he fled the scene.

Peedin was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation before he was interviewed by police.

The Affidavit of Probable Cause stated when police talked to Peedin the next day, he confessed to starting both fires.  Peedin said he had panicked and realized he did not know how to use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, so he ran out and told other people about the fire so they could get out of the building.

One Mathematics instructor told police 900 students were scheduled to take exams that evening when the fires started. Everyone was evacuated. No one was injured in the fire.

Peedin is charged with two counts of arson, perjury, and false informing.