Beech Grove man sentenced in federal arson case after fires at 2 Amtrak buildings in May 2021

Sarah Nelson, Indianapolis Star
·1 min read

Update: Casey Sage was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to arson of a federal property and arson of property of an organization receiving federal financial assistance, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice sent on Sept. 20, 2022.

A Beech Grove man is facing federal arson charges in connection with blazes set to two Amtrak facility buildings in May that caused roughly $1 million in damage.

Federal prosecutors in court documents said Casey Sage, 34, ignited two Amtrak storage buildings in the Beech Grove facility on May 2 by using railroad flares he picked up at the site and various flammable or hazardous chemicals.

Both buildings quickly caught fire, prosecutors said. Police were called to the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m.

Surveillance footage from the facility captured "several explosions and flying debris."

One of the Amtrak storage buildings set on fire in May at the Beech Grove rail yard facility.
One of the Amtrak storage buildings set on fire in May at the Beech Grove rail yard facility.

Amtrak estimated the flames resulted in roughly $1 million in damage to the buildings, each measuring about 50 by 50 feet.

Investigators allege that surveillance footage from the rail yard, at 202 Garstang St., show Sage trespassing the facility the night before the fires.

Prosecutors charged Sage with arson. If convicted, he could see five to 20 years in prison.

Crews extinguish the flames set to two Amtrak storage facility buildings in Beech Grove in May.
Crews extinguish the flames set to two Amtrak storage facility buildings in Beech Grove in May.

“Mr. Sage committed a violent and dangerous criminal act,” Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress said in a statement. “By burning down two buildings containing flammable and hazardous materials, Sage not only destroyed public property, he exposed first responders and Amtrak employees to a substantial risk of serious injury. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners’ quick response to the scene and their speedy efforts to investigate this case.”

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General, Amtrak Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Beech Grove Fire Department, Beech Grove Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigations assisted in the case.

Contact Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or 317-503-7514. 

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Beech Grove, Indiana, man sentenced in Amtrak fires