STATE CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED AGAINST THE SUSPECT ACCUSED OF STARTING A FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE GRANDSTAND AT THE MONONA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS ON JANUARY 28 IN ONAWA, IOWA.
42-YEAR-OLD DAVID IRA BRYAN OF ONAWA WAS CHARGED WITH ARSON IN THE SECOND DEGREE AND FIRST DEGREE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.
THE PROSECUTOR ASKED THE CHARGES TO BE DROPPED IN THE FURTHERANCE OF JUSTICE AND JUDGE JEFFREY NEARY SIGNED AN ORDER TO DISMISS WITH COSTS ASSESSED TO THE STATE.
BRYAN IS NOW CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA.
THOSE CHARGES INCLUDE MALICIOUS USE OF FIRE, RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE AND MAKING AN UNREGISTERED DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE.
FEDERAL COURT DOCUMENTS SAY BRYAN KNOWINGLY MADE AND POSSESSED A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, AS WELL AS CAUSED MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO THE MONONA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS GRANDSTANDS AND BUILDINGS IN ONAWA.
PREVIOUSLY, THE GRANDSTAND DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT $750.000.
ORIGINAL ARREST DOCUMENTS STATE THAT CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS THE DEFENDANT WALKING TOWARDS THE FAIRGROUNDS ENTRANCE AT 5;49PM AND THEN WALKING OUT OF THE FAIRGROUNDS AT 5;58PM.
THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 6:11PM
NO OTHER SUBJECTS WERE SEEN ON CAMERA IN THE FAIRGROUNDS DURING THE TIME OF THE FIRE.
