Fire, assault, and a $200,000 bond: Traverse City teen arrested after homeowners confront him
A Traverse City teenager was arraigned Monday on charges of second-degree arson and second-degree home invasion after an incident that began with a disabled security camera and ended with a house on fire in Blair Township.
Hayden Hul, 18, of Traverse City, was lodged at the Grand Traverse County Jail and faced a $200,000 cash or surety bond set by the 86th District Court, according to police and court records.
Homeowners confront suspect after camera goes offline
The chain of events started on Friday when the homeowners received a notification from their security system that their outdoor camera had been disabled, according to a news release from the Michigan State Police.
The homeowners left for their property on Conetree Trail in Blair Township and encountered a man walking along the road. They stopped to confront him.
The suspect allegedly assaulted the victims before members of the group subdued him, police said.
Troopers respond to assault call, homeowners find house ablaze
Just after 3 p.m., troopers from the MSP Traverse City Post and deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported assault in progress. Officers arrested the suspect at the scene, police said.
After the encounter, the homeowners continued to their property and found the house on fire.
Based on surveillance footage, investigators believe the suspect entered the property, broke into the home, set it on fire, stole the security camera, and then fled on foot, according to the Michigan State Police release.
Charges and what comes next
Hul was arraigned Monday in 86th District Court on two felony charges:
- Second-degree arson
- Second-degree home invasion
Additional charges could be filed later, police said.
The homeowners were not seriously injured, and no details were provided about the extent of the fire damage to the property.
Justine Lofton of MLive.com first reported the story.