The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged a man for allegedly starting a fire in a room at The Wildwood Hotel, 2801 Fountain Place, in Wildwood.
Matthew Charles Hrebec Jr., 30, of Crocker was charged Wednesday, Feb. 14, with first-degree arson, a class B felony punishable by five to 15 years in prison, court records show.
As of Thursday, Feb. 15, Hrebec was being held in St. Louis County Jail on $150,000 cash-only bond, according to court documents.
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, St. Louis County Police were called on Wednesday for a report of an emotionally distressed person at the hotel.
Officers went to a room Hrebec was in and talked with him through a hotel door. Hrebec seemed agitated and didn’t believe the officers were legitimate law enforcement officers, the report said.
Hrebec allegedly used a lighter to set his clothing and a seat cushion on fire near a window in the room. The fire damaged the room, according to the report.
The probable-cause statement does not say how officers were able to enter the room or whether other guests and staff were in the building when Hrebec allegedly started the fire.
Officers arrested Hrebec, who allegedly admitted to starting the fire, the report said.