Attempted arson plans foiled by hospital staff Nashville police say
NASHVILLE, TN Jan 25, 2022 Metro Nashville Police charged a 62-year-old man Monday after starting a fire inside a hospital room.
An arrest affidavit states that Michael Figard faces an aggravated arson charge after starting a fire in his hospital room while being treated for medical issues.
According to the affidavit, when staff entered his room, they had found Figard holding a cigarette lighter attempting to light a hospital gown on fire.
According to the affidavit, hospital staff worked quickly to put out the fire, leaving the only damage done to be a nearby table inside Figard’s room. Additionally, the staff said they took the lighter.
Figard told officers that he intentionally started the fire due to being upset with the tightness of his hospital gown, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, hospital staff had hooked up Figard to a compressed oxygen system inside the hospital, and a resulting fire could have caused a “significant explosion.”
This arrest was not the first time Figard, now awaiting trial, had gotten in trouble with the police. According to court records, police have charged him with various crimes such as public intoxication, trespassing, and more since 2014.
