MANHATTAN —A 22-year-old man is confined in the Riley County Jail after a 3-month criminal investigation and 2 active grass fires in rural Riley County on Friday night.
Samuel Gilbert, a Riley County volunteer firefighter was arrested on two counts of Arson, according to a media release from the RCPD. He is currently being held on a $10,000 bond.
Gilbert was taken into custody around 11:55 p.m. Friday near a pasture fire at the intersection of Alert Road and Sherman Road. The other fire reported that night was on land near Fairview Church Road and Calvary Road.
In November 2019, the Riley County Fire Department requested assistance from the RCPD to investigate a series of suspicious grass fires occurring in northern Riley County. Following analysis of the past fire response, a criminal investigation was initiated and led by Patrol Officers assigned to the North County.
If you have any information on these crimes, please contact RCPD at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.