BEDFORD – A 36-year-old Bedford man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to a shed while seeking shelter from the cold, according to Bedford Police Department officials.
Travis S. Atchison was arrested on a warrant following an investigation into a fire that occurred Monday, December 2, at 501 16th Street. The Bedford Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire at approximately 7:45 p.m.
According to Officer Clint L. Swanson’s report, police were able to track barefoot prints from the scene through a pharmacy parking lot to the Men’s Warming Shelter on H Street, where they located Atchison. After being read his Miranda rights, Atchison reportedly admitted to starting a fire inside the shed using hand sanitizer and a plastic coffee container to keep warm.
While Atchison claimed he had been working for the property owner and had permission to stay in the shed, the owner, Jerry Ford, later told investigators that Atchison was neither employed nor authorized to be on the property.
Atchison faces preliminary charges of arson, criminal trespass, and criminal mischief.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about homeless individuals seeking shelter during cold weather months. The Men’s Warming Shelter, where Atchison was found, provides emergency housing services for men in Bedford.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
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