Multiple charges filed against Fourth of July arson suspect
Blase Smith is accused of starting fires in downtown Yuma
Prosecutors from the Yuma County Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint Tuesday afternoon against the 33-yearold man who allegedly started several dumpster fires in downtown Yuma on the 4th of July, charging him with one felony and multiple misdemeanor offenses.
During his arraignment hearing in Yuma Justice Court, Blase Anthony Smith, who appeared in custody, was informed by Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart that he was being charged with one felony count of resisting arrest and three misdemeanor counts of arson.
Attorney Jerry Hernandez of the Yuma County Public Attorney’s Office was also present to assist Smith, but only for the purpose of the hearing. When bond was addressed, Hernandez said that he was not seeking to modify his client’s conditions of release at this time.
Stewart ordered that Smith’s bond remain at $50,000, which is the amount set at a previous hearing and appointed the public defender’s office to assign an attorney to represent Smith.
Stewart also scheduled his next court appearance for 4 p.m. on Monday for a preliminary hearing. He cautioned Smith, however, that his case could likely go before the Yuma County Grand Jury before then, which will make the determination whether there was enough probable cause for the case to move on to Superior Court.
If that were to happen, the judge explained, Smith would not have to return to court for the preliminary hearing.
According to information provided by Yuma police, officers and Yuma Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the area of Main Street in downtown Yuma at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Witnesses had reported seeing a male subject setting fire to multiple dumpsters in the area.
Officers located the suspect, now identified as Smith, who allegedly brandished a knife in a threatening manner while yelling at them, police said.
Smith eventually dropped the knife, but reportedly resisted arrest by fighting with police. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle.
A resident of Yuma, Smith, who also has a probation violation, was booked into the Yuma County jail.
YPD encourages anyone with any information about this case to call them at 928-373-4700, or 78-Crime at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.