LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville man has been charged with arson after allegedly setting a fire at the nursing home where he is employed, court documents said.
Justin Campisano, 39, is accused of starting a fire in a resident's room at the Valhalla Post Acute nursing home, near Middletown, on May 1.
Anchorage Middletown Fire responded to the emergency, finding a powered scooter chair was already extinguished.
"Staff members led us to the chair," spokesman Jordan Yuodis explained. "The fire had been put out, but you could obviously tell that the chair had been set on fire. And then where the chair had actually been sitting on the carpet was charred."
According to his arrest citation, a witness said Campisano told them he was going to get the resident "out of here."
Authorities said the resident had left approximately 45 minutes prior to the fire starting. Video surveillance showed Campisano leaving the room just one minute before the fire alarms went off, the citation continued.
Officials said the fire caused minor damage to the building.
Campisano's attorney said the allegations against their client are "bizarre for somebody with no criminal history."
"It appears to me this was a spur of the moment amateur hour," the attorney said during arraignment. "It's not like he went to work with a can of gas and a match."
In a statement to WHAS11, the nursing home said it is cooperating with authorities' investigation into the incident.
"The safety of our residents and staff remains our number one priority. The fire being reported in the media was immediately extinguished, no injuries were sustained and local emergency personnel responded quickly. The person charged regarding this event was removed from campus that evening and will not return," officials said. "By law, we perform background checks for all employees and are not in violation of hiring ineligible individuals. Our internal investigation is ongoing and we are fully cooperating with law enforcement as well. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on the residents and staff members’ well-being."
Campisano is being held on a $10,000 cash bond and is expected back in court on May 10.
If found guilty, he could face a penalty of 20-50 years or life imprisonment, fire officials said.
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