Arson suspect accused of 'playing hero' by friend

Media arts sophomore Anthony Ortega, who lives two doors away from the charred lobby of Sky View Apartments, 1050 E. Eighth St., said he has known arson suspect Randy Stuth, 20, since high school.

Stuth, of the 7400 block of South Avenida Belleza, was arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage Wednesday in connection with the fire that sent about 200 people, most of them UA students, scrambling to look for other lodging.

John Andes, a manager at Sky View Apartments, said residents will not be able to return to their homes for several more days because the building's fire alarm system has not yet been repaired.

Ortega, 22, said Stuth visited his apartment and that of another resident minutes before he allegedly threw a burning paper airplane into the apartment building's lobby about 1 a.m.

"I threw him out because he was drunk, and five minutes later the place is on fire," Ortega said.

Ortega said he didn't actually see Stuth launch a flaming plane into the lobby, but became suspicious after he saw Stuth panting, "hyperventilating" and bragging to firefighters that he was the first person to alert people of the blaze.

"I asked if he had a cigarette and he stopped hyperventilating and said 'Yes,'" Ortega said. "That's why I knew it was an act."

Ortega said detectives questioned him Wednesday morning about his relationship with Stuth and about what brand of cigarettes Stuth smoked because initial reports indicated somebody started the fire by flicking a burning cigarette on a chair.

Stuth eventually told detectives at the scene that he indeed lit a paper airplane on fire and let it fly through the lobby, a police spokesman said Wednesday.

Andes said he may know today when residents will be able to return to their homes.

"It all depends on the alarm people," he said.

American Red Cross spokeswoman Kate Diamond said there was a receiving center available at Roskruge Middle School, 501 E. Sixth St., for displaced residents.

The Red Cross, however, had to close the center Wednesday night and place people in area hotels because only seven people showed up. There were plans for another receiving center at Roskruge last night.

Sky View residents who are unable to find a place to stay tonight can call the Red Cross Disaster Services at 318-6558 for the latest information, Diamond said.

"We're prepared to have a shelter prepared every day if that's what it takes," she said.