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Parker man accused of arson spree along trail smiles in mugshot

Posted at 2:38 PM, Sep 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-07 17:36:47-04

PARKER, Colo. – Police in Parker say they believe they have the man responsible for multiple arsons that torched acres of open land along the Cherry Creek Trail earlier this year.

Police arrested Jack Payne, 22, of Parker. He is facing felony arson charges for the April fires. A mugshot showing the smiling suspect was released Thursday.

Police accuse Payne of going on a two-day arson streak on April 12 and 13. The fires forced multiple road and trail closures, caused concern for nearby businesses and residents and forced a school to go on lockout, police said.

Multiple agencies were involved in the arson investigation, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Authorities were immediately suspicious of the nature of the fires and labeled them "human caused."

Payne appeared in court Wednesday and bond was set at $5,000. He is scheduled to appear again on Sep. 11.