Beech Grove man charged with setting Amtrak buildings on fire

A man accused of setting two buildings on fire at the Amtrak facility in Beech Grove last month was arrested Monday on federal criminal charges.

Casey Sage, 34, trespassed onto the grounds of the Amtrak facility on May 2, located at 202 Garstang Street in Beech Grove, and allegedly lit two buildings on fire.

The case was investigated by Amtrak’s Office of the Inspector General, Amtrak Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Beech Grove Fire Department, Beech Grove Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Surveillance video captured Sage as he moved around the Amtrak facility rail yard, court documents say. He then entered two storage buildings in the rail yard containing various flammable or hazardous chemicals and other materials, igniting each building and its contents using railroad flares he picked up at the site.

Video surveillance captured both buildings quickly erupting in flames, as well as several explosions and flying debris. The buildings and their contents were destroyed, estimated by Amtrak at $1 million worth of damages.

Sage is charged with arson and potentially faces 5 to 20 years in prison if convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“Mr. Sage committed a violent and dangerous criminal act,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “By burning down two buildings containing flammable and hazardous materials, Sage not only destroyed public property, he exposed first responders and Amtrak employees to a substantial risk of serious injury. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners’ quick response to the scene and their speedy efforts to investigate this case.”

Assistant United States Attorneys William L. McCoskey and Adam Eakman are prosecuting the case for the federal government.