January 8, 2023

Miles Andrew Caldwell, 19, was initially charged in November of 2023 in Pulaski County Circuit Court with two counts of Arson (1 Class B Felony, 1 Class C Felony) in connection with fires set at two gyms in Little Rock. He is now being charged federally.

Caldwell allegedly started fires in the bathrooms of the Little Rock Athletic Club and 10 Fitness at Rodney Parham on Thursday, November 16th. The Little Rock Fire Department immediately began an extensive investigation into the fires and arrested Caldwell quickly thanks to the cameras at the gyms and GPS location data. A $20,000 bond was set on the 17th of November by Little Rock District Judge Martin and a no contact order was issued. 

On November 20th a criminal complaint for Arson was filed in the Federal District Court and Caldwell was taken into custody by the ATF. Arson usually isn’t a federal crime but can become a federal crime for a few different reasons. In Caldwell’s case the criminal complaint says that these were committed at, “other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce.” 

On December 5th, 2023 Caldwell was formally indicted on two counts of arson. The indictment states, “THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT: COUNT 1: On or about November 16, 2023, in the Eastern District of Arkansas, the defendant, CALDWELL, maliciously damaged and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, the Little Rock Athletic Club, located at 4610 Sam Peck Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, a building used in and affecting interstate commerce and in an activity affecting interstate commerce. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i). COUNT 2: On or about November 16, 2023, in the Eastern District of Arkansas, the defendant, CALDWELL, maliciously damaged and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, 10 Fitness, located at 10901 North Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, a building used in and affecting interstate commerce and in an activity affecting interstate commerce. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i).”

The criminal complaint is below and contains pictures of the arson damage and explains the extensive investigation by the Little Rock Fire Department. 

As of today, VineLink shows Caldwell to be in custody at the Prairie County Detention Center in Des Arc. There is a review hearing set on Caldwell’s state charges on January 17th. Jury trial is set in the federal charges for July 22nd, 2024. Typically when federal charges are filed the state charges will no longer be pursued. We will update when information becomes available.