KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE MONDAY: The man accused of setting two fires on the University of Tennessee campus early Saturday had previously been told he was a trespasser and wasn't welcome on UT property, records show.
Darius M. Shands, 45, is accused of arson and reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon, among other charges.
He's accused of setting fires in a dumpster by the rear of Clement Hall, 1627 Cumberland Ave., and then in a maintenance tunnel near Gate 23 outside Neyland Stadium, according to records.
Investigators said in both instances they looked at surveillance video that appeared to show Shands on the scene when the fires started.
On May 17, a University of Tennessee Police Department officer issued a warning citation to Shands after finding him outside the Tickle Engineering Building near the stadium, according to records. At that time he was told not to come on UT property, according to records.
But on the night of June 4, the officer saw who he recognized as Shands once again outside Tickle.
Authorities identified Shands as being homeless.
PREVIOUS STORY: An arrest has been made after two early-morning fires that happened on the University of Tennessee campus Saturday, according to the Knoxville Fire Department.
At 5:51 a.m., a dumpster fire was reported at Clement Hall. KFD said the dumpster was found burning and was located against the wall of the hall, potentially endangering the students in the building.
At 7:59 a.m., a second fire was reported in a utility structure near Neyland Stadium. The structure was on fire by the time KFD arrived.
KFD Fire Investigators and the University of Tennessee Police Department identified the suspect in both fires as 45-year-old Darius M. Shands.
Officials later found and arrested Shands in a camp off Poplar Street.
Shands is charged with one count of arson, one count of setting fire to personal property, one count of attempted aggravated arson and reckless endangerment, according to officials.
No injuries have been reported.