A Sandstone man has been charged with first-degree arson in connection to a house fire on Sept. 1.
According to the criminal complaint, Pine County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report of a house on fire in Sandstone around 2 a.m.. No one was inside and no injuries were reported.
Multiple people at the scene accused Codell Brantley of starting the fire.
A juvenile present reported that Brantley and his romantic partner reside in the house, and that the two had an argument that turned physical at a Pine County bar.
Brantley left, and a while later, a third party came into the bar saying the house was on fire.
Brantley was allegedly seen coming out of the woods near the home when his romantic partner and two juveniles returned to the house.
The Sandstone Fire Department fully extinguished the blaze, which caused heavy damage to the house.
Law enforcement later located footprints in the grass near the home, along with a lighter. A cigarette butt consistent with the brand Brantley smokes was next to the marks in the grass.
The juvenile party told law enforcement that Brantley had previously threatened to burn down the home.
Brantley admitted to having an argument at the bar, but his explanations of his whereabouts at the time of the fire were inconsistent with expected timelines for walking distances.
The state fire marshal determined it did not appear the fire was started by accidental means.
There is potential evidence of an accelerant as a contributing factor, which is being further tested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Brantley was also charged with gross misdemeanor domestic assault. He has a 2020 conviction of misdemeanor domestic assault.
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