Rochester Man Avoids Prison in Apartment Fire Arson Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has avoided a prison sentence for starting a fire at a local apartment building last year.

According to Olmsted County court records, 25-year-old Ellis Doyle Spencer was accused of igniting fires on the exterior of an apartment building in southwest Rochester in the early morning hours of April 24, 2025. The criminal complaint says Rochester police and firefighters responded around 1 a.m. to reports of an active fire at the multi-unit residential building.

Apartment Fire Incident

Court documents state that police officers arrived at the scene and reported fires had been started at two front windows near the building’s main entrance. The complaint also indicates a strong, chemical-like odor consistent with a fire accelerant was detected at each window, and an officer found fresh liquid stains on a window screen that smelled strongly of chemicals.

A manager of the apartment complex informed investigators that 21 residential units in the building were occupied at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Threats and Surveillance Video

The criminal complaint says an individual identified as the victim told investigators the fire was started by Spencer. The victim indicated he did not see Spencer actually start the fire but stated Spencer had threatened him the previous day by allegedly saying he knew where the victim lived and was going to set the apartment building on fire.

Surveillance video also shows Spencer entering and exiting the building several times throughout the previous day and walking past the front entrance about an hour before the fire was reported.

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Charges and Plea Deal

Spencer was charged with two counts of first-degree arson but later entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of second-degree arson as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced Tuesday to one year in jail but received credit for the 237 days he had already spent in custody. He was also placed on probation for five years and received a stayed 23-month prison sentence that could be imposed if he fails to complete probation.

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