Oct 19, 2021

UPDATE: Aggieville arsonist former KSU research assistant

Posted Oct 19, 2021 7:11 PM

Manhattan Man Arrested for Two Counts of Aggravated Arson 

Matthew Spooner, 36, of Manhattan has been arrested in connection to two arson fires in Aggieville yesterday.  

He is currently being held in the Riley County Jail in lieu of bond. 

On October 18, 2021, around 1:30 p.m., the Manhattan Fire Department was dispatched for what was believed to be an electrical fire in the 1200 block of Moro St.  

During MFD’s response, fire investigators indicated the fire appeared to be an arson set with a device commonly known as a Molotov cocktail. The device had been thrown into the patio of O’Malley’s Alley at 1210 Moro Street. RCPD officers responded to the location. No injuries were reported. One employee was working and no customers were at the restaurant at the time. 

Spooner was quickly identified as the suspect and a search for him began. According to RCPD public information officer Aaron Wintermote, officers received a description from a witness who saw a suspect leaving the area near O’Malley’s. They also obtained security camera footage from surrounding buildings to verify their target. 

While officers were looking for Spooner, the Riley County Communications Center received an additional call around 7:45 p.m. for a fire also set with a Molotov cocktail in the 1100 block of Laramie St.  

MFD and RCPD responded to the scene where a witness said they had observed Spooner set the fire and leave the area.  

RCPD and Kansas State University Police officers spotted and identified Spooner in the Aggieville area a short time later. He was transported to RCPD for questioning and later arrested for two counts of aggravated arson and two counts of criminal use of explosives.  Damage from both incidents totals about $600.

Until about a week ago, Spooner was a research assistant in the Biology Department of Kansas State University. His LinkedIn account lists Biology Division Storeroom Manager as his occupation. Six days ago K-State posted a job opening for Biology Storeroom Manager.