Man Charged with Arson After Setting Dumpster Ablaze in Texarkana

A man has been charged with arson and possession of a controlled substance after allegedly setting a dumpster on fire behind a business in Texarkana, Texas. The incident occurred on August 25, 2023, around 18:15 local time, when surveillance footage captured Michael Jacob Castillo, 34, climbing into a dumpster behind Cash America Pawn on New Boston Road.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Bowie County, Castillo emerged from the dumpster approximately six minutes later, with smoke and flames visible as he walked away from the scene. Officers from the Texarkana Texas Police Department quickly detained Castillo, who initially claimed that the fire was accidental and resulted from his use of a can to smoke marijuana.

Upon searching Castillo, police reportedly found about 0.01 grams of suspected methamphetamine in his pocket. Castillo acknowledged that he had been smoking meth, not marijuana, while inside the dumpster.

Castillo is currently being held at the Bowie County jail with a bail set at $53,000. If convicted of arson, he could face a prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years. The drug possession charge carries a potential penalty of six months to two years in a state jail.

The Texarkana incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding substance abuse and its potential consequences on public safety. Local authorities continue to address these issues as they investigate further details surrounding Castillo’s actions.