INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 32-year-old man severely burned after deputies said he stole a trailer, construction equipment, and then set the trailer ablaze, was arrested after spending several weeks at an Orlando burn center.
The stolen items along with the destroyed trailer totaled more than $20,000, authorities said.
The man – identified as David Micheal Geisler – later told deputies he now uses a cane to walk. Geisler also said he has to travel to the Orlando burn center every other week and has to take 16 different medications, reports show.
Deputies arrested Geisler, of the 1100 block of 29th Avenue, on a variety of charges including second-degree arson, burglary, tampering with evidence and second-degree grand theft. Geisler was released Wednesday from the Indian River County Jail on his own recognizance.
Indian River County sheriff’s deputies spoke with the victim in late April. The victim told deputies his trailer, which had items including saws, power tools, ladders, toolboxes and more, was stolen from the 1000 block of 42nd Avenue, reports show.
The victim later discovered the trailer was taken to the 6600 block of 12th Street and set on fire.
The victim went back to 42nd Avenue and noticed drag marks on the road from the trailer. He followed the drag marks to a home on 29th Avenue. Responding deputies went to the home and spoke with a woman, who agreed to a search of the residence and garage.
Deputies found several construction tools in the garage. The victim identified most of the items that belonged to him, many of which had his hand written initials, reports show.
Deputies then heard a loud crash in the back of the garage and found the woman’s fiance, Geisler, hiding. Geisler had serious burns to his upper body, reports show.
Geisler was flown to the Orlando burn center and spent several weeks in intensive care, authorities said. Deputies think Geisler used his fiance’s pickup to drag the trailer to their home and then to the arson site.
Deputies arrested Geisler and took him to the county jail. Geisler has an arraignment at 8:30 a.m. August 29, court records show.