Lang
1/23/22
An Iowa City arson suspect has entered a not guilty plea.
56-year-old Douglas Johnson of Plum Street entered the plea Friday in Johnson County court. He’s accused of intentionally setting a fire at the Waterfront Hy-Vee on Christmas night.
Iowa City Police and firefighters were called to the grocery store just after 8pm that night for a fire near the loading dock. Firefighters told investigators an accelerant had been put on the blaze, which caused an estimated $1,000 in damage.
Security video shows Johnson walking toward the loading dock just before 5:45pm, then walking away quickly northbound three minutes later.
Johnson was found just after 8:15 that night near Hawkeye Liquor & Tobacco on the corner of Boyrum Street and Hollywood Boulevard. Police say he later admitted to being in the area of the fire, and that he smelled of an accelerant. Johnson was arrested and charged with 1st Degree Arson and 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 27 years in prison.
On Friday, Judge Andrew Chappell set a trial date of May 10th.
Johnson is already facing a January 27th trial on assault charges after he allegedly assaulted two University of Iowa employees. Police say on November 29th, Johnson hit two people in the back of the head unprovoked outside the Seamons Center on South Capitol Street.