Cheyenne Police Announce Arrest In Connection With Pumphouse Fire

Cheyenne Police have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the fire at the Historic Pumphouse last Saturday.

Firefighters and Cheyenne Police were called out to a fire at the historic building at around 9:30 p.m. on May 16. When they got there, first responders saw that the structure at 1504 Dillon was engulfed in flames, including in the roof and attic.

The fire was declared extinguished at 10:46 p.m. Investigators from Cheyenne Fire Rescue and CPD then went to work to determine how the fire started.

According to a CPD news release: "The joint investigation revealed that the fire originated in a room on the south side of the building. Accidental causes - including mechanical issues, environmental factors, and nearby railroad activity - were ruled out. The building also had no utilities connected. It was concluded that the fire was human-caused, and intentionally, recklessly, or negligently ignited.:

Police Say Carbajal Was Seen On Surveillance Footage

Investigators looked at surveillance footage from a nearby business that showed a man, later identified as 35-year-old Christophe Carbajal, entering the property through a gap in the fence. He then climbed through a ground floor window not long before the fire started, according to police.

Carbajal was then seen leaving the property not long before the flames became visible. No one else was seen coming from or entering the property.

Carbajal was arrested on Thursday, May 21 for an unrelated public intoxication charge. The release says "Detectives have submitted a probable cause affidavit to the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office supporting additional arson-related charges."