Equal rights office arson suspect released

Keith Paul

Monday, Aug. 7, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

A 62-year-old man charged with setting the fire that gutted the Nevada Equal Rights Commission last week was released from the Clark County Detention Center Saturday.

Charles H. Gratman, booked into the jail Friday on arson charges, posted $3,000 bond and was released, jail officials said.

Clark County Fire Department investigators arrested Gratman Friday in connection with Wednesday night's two-alarm blaze that caused about $700,000 worth of damage to the office at 1515 E. Tropicana Ave., fire officials said. No one was injured in the fire.

Gratman, who has worked for the commission for several years, was due for a review on his job performance.

Witnesses told arson investigators that Gratman was seen near the office the night of the blaze, a fire official said.

The fire department's arson-detection dog, Wren, sniffed out flammable liquids in the burned-out building, indicating to investigators the blaze was a case of arson.

The state Attorney General's Office will prosecute the case, since it involves a state worker and a state office, Clark County Fire Department spokesman Steve La-Sky said.

Gratman could not be reached for comment this morning.