(La Porte County, IN) - A man is accused of setting a fire last night inside his Michigan City area motel room.

 

Calvin Kinney, 50, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with Level 4 felony arson.

 

The fire happened at Microtel Inn on 400 North near U.S. 421.

 

La Porte County Police said smoke was coming from his second floor room but Kinney refused to open the door and used a mattress to try and keep it shut.  Eventually, he was taken into custody.

 

Coolspring Township Assistant Fire Chief Warren Smith said fire damage was contained to the room but many other rooms suffered smoke and water damage.

 

Smith said the motel with roughly 70 guests was evacuated, forcing those people to go elsewhere for lodging.

 

Police said some bedding material was bunched together and set on fire.

 

Smith said he wasn’t sure when the motel will be able to reopen.

 

Kinney was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $20,000 cash only bond.