31 year old Jeremy Scott Dunklee, a Barry County resident, was arrested and charged with third degree arson, malicious destruction of police property, assaulting and resisting a police officer, and habitual offender – fourth offense, after he poured gasoline on a Hastings City Police cruiser that was parked outside City Hall and set it on fire Monday around 5pm, according to Chief of Police Dale Boulter.
A surveillance video of the parking lot released by HPD clearly shows Dunklee walking up to the cruiser carrying a gas can, pouring it on the roof and side of the vehicle, then lighting it on fire.
About the same time, Deputy Police Chief Julissa Kelly had exited an unmarked vehicle in the lot and spotted Dunklee as the cruiser was engulfed in flames. Kelly chased after Dunklee on foot. With help from some bystanders he was caught and taken into custody on Boltwood Street. His bond was set at $200,000.