By Railfan & Railroad Staff

INDIANAPOLIS — A 32-year-old Indiana man has been arrested and charged with arson following a fire at Amtrak’s Beech Grove, Ind., repair facility on May 2. Casey Sage faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. 

According to prosecutors, Sage trespassed onto the grounds of Amtrak’s Beech Grove facility and set two fires inside two buildings with some flares that he had found on site. The incident was caught on security cameras. No motive for the alleged crime was given. The fire reportedly caused more than $1 million in damage. 

“Mr. Sage committed a violent and dangerous criminal act,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “By burning down two buildings containing flammable and hazardous materials, Sage not only destroyed public property, he exposed first responders and Amtrak employees to a substantial risk of serious injury. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners’ quick response to the scene and their speedy efforts to investigate this case.”

The case was investigated by Amtrak’s Office of the Inspector General, Amtrak Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Beech Grove Fire Department, Beech Grove Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

In a statement to Railfan & Railroad, Amtrak Police Chief Sam Dotson said, “Working with our law enforcement partners, this investigation led to the arrest of a criminal who by his actions risked the lives of first responders and Amtrak employees. This joint investigation was thorough and resulted in the arrest of an arsonist who caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to equipment and property.” 

Sage, who is considered innocent until proven guilty, will appear in federal court in the coming weeks.