GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - Etowah County authorities say a man and a hotel owner are each facing charges after a fire in Sardis City.
Etowah County sheriff’s spokeswoman Natalie Barton said in a statement that 36-year-old Christopher David Cantrell of Attalla is charged with arson in a fire at the Budget Inn on Saturday. Officials say Cantrell is accused of starting a fire in his room that caused serious damage.
Sardis City Police Chief James Harp says the hotel’s owner, 55-year-old Suresh Desai of Boaz, is charged with 26 counts of reckless endangerment and duty to maintain conditions because the hotel’s fire alarm and extinguishers hadn’t been serviced in more than a year.
Authorities say Desai was responsible for having working smoke detectors in each room.
It’s unclear if Cantrell or Desai have attorneys.
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