Man accused in gas station arson to have competency hearing

A competency hearing is scheduled June 8 for a man accused in a February Painesville Township gas station arson.

Michael Craig, 59, was indicted in May on 16 counts stemming from the Feb. 29 incident at the 1251 Mentor Ave. GetGo Gas Station. Craig entered a plea of not guilty and in the alternative, not guilty by a reason of insanity to all charges.

He was ordered to be evaluated by court psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Rindsburg on his current competency to stand trial as well as his mental state during the time of the alleged offenses.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 11:50 a.m. on the day of the incident regarding the report of a possible accident that resulted in a fire at one of the gas pumps at the gas station.

According to the department, Craig was driving a black Buick Rainier

SUV that had been stationary in the GetGo parking lot before accelerating at a high rate of speed and intentionally ramming into a gas pump, which became dislodged from the ground.

Craig, while pushing the dislodged pump, struck a Ford pickup truck that was fueling at another pump. The truck was occupied by two adults and their child, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The allegedly intentional collision with the truck forced the truck into the gas pump it was using. The other pump that was initially dislodged became wedged under the truck.

Due to the impact, a fire was immediately ignited and “began to consume the pickup truck.” All of the occupants were able to get out of the vehicle uninjured, according to the department.

The Sheriff’s Office stated that Craig continued across the parking lot in the SUV in the northeast direction toward Mentor Avenue. He hit another vehicle before entering the road. As he entered the road he hit another vehicle that was traveling eastbound.

Craig continued north across Mentor Avenue and off the north side of the roadway through a chain link fence.

The Sheriff’s Office stated that due to all of the impacts, the SUV caught on fire. Craig was approached by bystanders who were trying to offer assistance. When they approached, Craig allegedly told them he had a gun and he was going to shoot and kill everyone.

While attempting to flee, Craig allegedly also told sheriff’s deputies that he had a gun and would shoot and kill. Craig proceeded to point what appeared to be a gun toward the deputies, according to the department.

Craig allegedly refused to comply with deputies’ commands and continued to taunt and threaten them while sitting in a flaming vehicle.

He then crawled out the driver’s side window while holding what appeared to be a gun in his hands.

After a brief standoff at the side of the flaming SUV, deputies were able to determine that he was actually holding a pair of pliers.

Deputies deployed bean bag rounds at Craig as he allegedly continued to ignore commands. Craig was ultimately incapacitated by a Taser and secured. He was pulled away from the now engulfed SUV.

Craig was taken to TriPoint Medical Center for cuts and burns to his leg, according to the department. He was medically cleared and taken to the Lake County Jail. One other person was taken to the hospital as a precaution. They were treated and released.

He has been in the Lake County Jail since his arrest in lieu of a $3 million bond. That bond was first set by Painesville Municipal Court Judge Paul R.

Malchesky. The judge said at the March arraignment hearing in his court that Craig has an “extensive” record and called the incident a “significant offense with lots of victims and lots of potential victims.”

Craig is facing three counts of first-degree felony aggravated arson, four counts of second-degree felony felonious assault, two counts of fourth-degree felony arson, two counts of fourth-degree felony vandalism, and one count of fourth-degree felony inducing panic. He also faces misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, reckless operation and aggravated menacing (two counts).

The case is assigned to Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene A. Lucci.

Court records list Craig’s address as 25 Freedom Road in Painesville Township, which is the address of Project Hope for the Homeless.

Craig is represented by Assistant Lake County Public Defender Concetta Rogazione.

Craig