INDIANAPOLIS — A Greenfield man made his first appearance in a Marion County court Wednesday to face two felony charges after he was accused of trying to burn down or blow up a strip club after he was kicked out.
Nicholas David Miller, 33, was observed on video placing a gasoline can outside near the building’s gas meter and then holding a lit cigarette near it, says an affidavit filed in support of the charges. He faces a Level 4 felony charge of attempted arson and a Level 6 felony charge of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Dancers Show Club, 8013 W. Washington St., in Indianapolis, according to court records. Miller was served two beers after arriving at the club around 11 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. However, he was asked to leave after he was accused of acting strangely, standing over other patrons staring at them, according to court documents.
The man left without incident, but he was observed via the business’s camera system as he pulled something out of the trunk of his car, court documents said. In the video, which was turned over to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the man can be seen placing a gasoline can next to the building, underneath the gas meter. A shirt was wrapped around the gas can’s spigot.
The man was then seen on the video lighting a cigarette, taking several drags on it, then holding the lit cigarette near the gas can and shirt, according to court documents. After the shirt failed to ignite, investigators said, he threw the cigarette toward the gas can, then ran to his vehicle.
No damage was done to the building, documents said. At the time of the incident, an estimated 40 to 50 people were inside the club, the manager told investigators.
Formal charges were filed against Miller on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Judge James Snyder of Marion County Superior Court set a $15,000, 10 percent bond, and a no-contact order was filed as Miller made his initial appearance.
Miller is scheduled to make his next appearance in court for a pretrial conference set for Thursday, Jan. 23.
