Jefferson County investigators say they have a man in custody they believe is responsible for a July 1 shed fire on Meyers Gulch Road near Evergreen. Officials identified the suspect as 61-year-old Richard Berkey and said he faces arson-related charges along with a misdemeanor count tied to alleged tampering with a utility meter. Deputies and Evergreen Fire/Rescue crews kept the blaze from spreading to nearby homes, and the cause remains under investigation.
What Jefferson County says
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, investigators say Berkey was charged with fourth-degree arson, the offense of "firing woods or prairie" during active fire restrictions, and tampering with a utility meter. The sheriff's post notes that Berkey was taken into custody a few days after the July 1 incident while he was being held at a detention facility on unrelated warrants out of Arapahoe and Adams counties. The office also emphasized that suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
How the fire unfolded
Deputies say multiple 911 calls brought them to Meyers Gulch Road around 8:20 p.m. on July 1, where they found a shed on fire near a home and flames roughly 20 feet high, as reported by KKTV. Officials told reporters they used extinguishers and dirt to slow the fire's spread until Evergreen Fire/Rescue crews arrived and fully put out the blaze. Coverage of the incident notes that the cause is still under investigation. No residents were reported injured.
Charges and possible penalties
State law treats "firing woods or prairie" as a separate offense, and penalties increase when a county fire ban is in place. The statute is laid out in Colorado law; see Justia for the text. Fourth-degree arson covers knowingly or recklessly starting a fire that places people or occupied structures in danger and can be charged as a felony under Colorado's arson statutes. Legal summaries explain how state law scales those charges; see Shouse Law Group for context. Tampering with a utility meter is addressed in Colorado's tampering statutes and is commonly treated as a misdemeanor under the meter-tampering provision, and prosecutors can seek restitution for suppression and damage costs. See analysis of tampering provisions in Colorado law for details.
What's next
Jefferson County officials say the investigation is active and that prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges in court. County notices direct anyone with information or footage to contact the Jefferson County sheriff's tip line at Jefferson County at 303-271-5612 or email [email protected]. Authorities stress that the case is ongoing and are asking the public to let investigators finish their work.
