A 50-year-old man was arrested in LaPorte County for arson after setting his hotel room on fire and refusing to come out.

Deputies responded to the Microtel Inn on West 400 North just before 11:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14, on the report of an unknown issue in Room 214. When officers tried to contact the occupant, Calvin Kinney, he did not respond. Smoke then began seeping from under the door, triggering the fire alarm.

Despite multiple commands, Kinney refused to open the door. Officers forced it open and found a mattress blocking entry. He eventually emerged and was taken into custody.

Investigators determined the fire was started with bedding materials. The hotel was evacuated and later closed. Kinney was booked into La Porte County Jail on a Level 4 felony arson charge with a $20,000 cash bond.

During the evacuation, Robert R. Butkus, 61, also refused to leave his first-floor room. Despite repeated commands, he remained inside, even using the bathroom and returning to bed. Officers entered through a window and took him into custody. He was transported to a hospital for clearance before being booked into jail without bond.

The fire remains under investigation by detectives and the State Fire Marshal.