Marine Recruiter Accused of Faking Attack and Starting Fires

Marine recruiter accused of starting fire at Bismarck recruiting station
Bismarck Tribune
By Jenny Michael
January 8, 2014

A U.S. Marine Corps recruiter has been accused of starting seven small fires in the recruiting station from which he works and of fabricating a story about the incident.

Anthony DeGroot, 29, was charged Wednesday with Class B felony arson and Class A misdemeanor false information to law enforcement.

South Central District Judge Bruce Haskell set bond for DeGroot at 10 percent of $5,000 cash, which means DeGroot must post $500 to be released but could be made to repay the entire amount if he is found to have violated conditions on his bond.

According to an affidavit from Bismarck Police detective Dean Clarkson, a man called 911 at 6:59 p.m. Dec. 26 to report seeing smoke at the Armed Services Recruiting Office, 240 W. Front Ave., and seeing a man, later identified as DeGroot, exit the building with duct tape around his face and wrist and lay down on the ground. The man said he had seen lights go out in what was the Marine side of the building before “DeGroot exited the building in a calm manner,” Clarkson wrote.

Responding officers took DeGroot to a safer location and cut off the duct tape. DeGroot was not responsive, so officers began CPR until DeGroot became responsive.

The affidavit said DeGroot is a Marine recruiter working from the office on Front Avenue. In court on Wednesday, DeGroot said he has been in the Marine Corps for 10 years and is a staff sergeant.
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