Police: 8 dumpster fires later, Springfield man says he can't control himself

There have been at least 16 cases of burning cars and flaming dumpsters near a low-income apartment building in Springfield in the past two years, according to court documents, and police now say they know who set those fires.

Ned N. Zitting, 56, told police he has started eight car fires and has lit the same dumpster ablaze eight times, often going back to his apartment to watch the flames from his window, court documents show.

Zitting allegedly said he cannot control himself.

The incidents are described in a probable cause statement, which said Zitting was arrested in connection with a car fire just after midnight on Jan. 28 in the parking lot of the Franciscan Villa apartment complex.

Zitting, a resident of Franciscan Villa, was interviewed by police in the Greene County Jail a few days later and said he has set numerous other fires.

An officer went through several unsolved cases of burning cars at or near Franciscan Villa from October 2015 onward, the statement said, with Zitting saying he had set eight of them.

According to the statement, Zitting said he would take a cardboard box, fill it with paper or toilet paper, put it inside a car, then start the fire with a disposable lighter. 

If the car was locked, Zitting said he might take a plastic bag, fill it with either Styrofoam or toilet paper and use that to set on the front tires on fire, the statement said.

For instance, on Dec. 23, 2015, authorities responded to Franciscan Villa for a red Ford compact car on fire, determined the fire started above the driver's side tire and believed it was an accident, the statement said.

Eight days later, authorities responded again to Franciscan Villa for the same car on fire, determined the fire started in the passenger compartment, and did not believe it was an accident, the statement said.

Zitting allegedly told police he set both of those fires.

Zitting also told police his apartment overlooked a dumpster that he set on fire eight times in the spring and summer of 2016, the statement said.

According to court records, Zitting has been charged with six counts of knowingly burning or exploding.

He is being held on a $75,000 bond, court documents show.