Jun 23, 2010 By Josh Krysak 2 min read

A homeless man is in prison after he allegedly set fire to a building at a Uniontown park last month. Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter said Earl Lee Patterson, 27, was charged Monday before Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros with felony counts of arson, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

Gmitter said the charges were filed after Patterson set fire to a storage building at Coal Lick Park on Mill Street on May 31.

Gmitter said city police and firefighters responded to the blaze shortly before 9 p.m.

After the fire was extinguished, state police fire marshal William Large determined the blaze was intentionally set and noted two separate points of origin, Gmitter said.

Gmitter said that Large and Uniontown police Officer Ray Miller each received separate tips that Patterson had started the fire.

On June 10, Gmitter said he was assisting state parole agents in serving warrants and discovered Patterson, who is homeless, sleeping at one of the homes being searched.

Gmitter said Patterson agreed to speak with police and eventually admitted to setting the fire.

He told investigators that he was familiar with the building because he used to break in and sleep inside, Gmitter said.

Gmitter said the building sustained about $13,000 in damage in the fire.

Patterson was placed in the Fayette County Prison on $15,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.

A preliminary hearing for Patterson will be held at a later date before Metros.