26-02-2025
Competency hearing set for man accused of starting fire outside Piqua High School
The man accused of starting a fire at Piqua High School on purpose and then pointing a weapon at police before he was arrested will soon find out if he'll be going to trial.
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Grady Egerton, 21, has been in the Miami County Jail since his arrest in July 2024. Next Thursday, he'll appear in a courtroom where a judge will start to consider the future of his case.
Last Friday was the deadline for a psychologist to finish his evaluation of Egerton and file a written report with the defense, prosecutors, and the judge. Court records show it was the third time doctors evaluated him.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00, Egerton's lawyer told News Center 7's John Bedell that defendants are allowed three evaluations by law and that there have been 'conflicting evaluations.'
The 21-year-old's lawyer filed a not guilty by reason of insanity plea in the fall, suggesting in the same filing that he's incompetent to stand trial.
After those three evaluations, the court has now scheduled a competency hearing for next week. That's when the judge will use what doctors wrote in their reports to help decide a ruling on whether Egerton is competent to stand trial.
>> PHOTOS: Piqua High School damaged by 'incendiary device' detonation
As News Center 7 previously reported, Egerton is accused of starting a fire at the entrance of Piqua High School on July 1.
Surveillance video showed him throwing a small propane tank at the front doors. Police said he threw a lit match in the trash can, starting a fire that made the tank explode.
In body camera first aired by News Center 7 in July, officers went to his apartment to arrest him on a warrant for arson the night of the fire. In the video, one of their body cameras fell to the ground and caught the moment Egerton pointed a gun at officers.
Police then shot at him, but no one was hit in the gunfire.
Police later said it turned out Egerton had a CO-2 BB gun.
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