(Michigan City, IN) - On Thursday night about 70 Michigan City motel guests were evacuated due to a fire set in a second-floor room. One of those guests allegedly wasn’t interested in leaving, and he was arrested.

 

According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department, Calvin Kinney (50), for unknown reasons, set fire to some bedding material in his room at the Microtel Inn. Kinney, who was later charged with arson, was taken into custody, as other motel guests were ushered to safety.

 

READ MORE: Man Inexplicably Sets Fire to Bedding, Forcing Evacuation of La Porte Microtel

 

One guest, however, Robert R. Butkus (60), refused to vacate his first-floor room despite commands from Sheriff’s deputies. With the room door slightly ajar, officers reported they could see Butkus using the bathroom, then crawling back into bed. Deputies gained entrance through a window and, according to reports, gave Butkus further opportunities to comply, before extricating him from the room and placing him into custody.

 

Butkus was charged with trespass and refusing to leave an emergency area, both misdemeanors.