April 23, 7 p.m.
College student Neil Gajare, arrested and charged with arson in connection with a fire in Rodin College House early yesterday morning, posted $5,000 bail today and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.
The 22-year-old is being charged with five counts, including arson, causing catastrophe, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime with intent and recklessly endangering another person.
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said that Gajare currently remains a Penn student pending the outcome of his disciplinary process. He has restricted access at Penn and is not allowed to be on campus without prior approval.
Gajare, a biochemistry student and Rodin resident, allegedly started the fire at about 2 a.m. yesterday.
Police say he stood in the elevator bank on his floor, sprayed a can of butane and lighted the chemical on fire with a cigarette lighter, inflaming material in a nearby recycling bin.
Water from the sprinkler system extinguished the fire but caused damage to all four elevators and property throughout Rodin. The building was evacuated at 2:13 a.m., and no injuries were reported. One of the four elevators has since been fixed, but the others are still not in use.
Gajare previously attended Northwestern University, where he faced charges related to anti-Semitic graffiti found in a Northwestern dormitory in January 2006.
He was charged with institutional vandalism and felony criminal damage to property after anti-Semitic statements, two Swastikas and a rabbit were drawn throughout a dorm, according to The Daily Northwestern.
