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Sami Kasawat, 33, has been charged with one count each of arson and endangering other people or property following an incident over the weekend, according to the Arlington County Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Office on Monday, Jan. 30.
Shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, crews from the Arlington County Fire Department responded to the 5500 block of Columbia Pike, where there was a reported structure fire.
Upon arrival, officials say that firefighters were met by a small fire on the balcony that was quickly extinguished.
While investigating the incident, the Fire Marshal recovered evidence indicating the fire had been intentionally set, and Kasawat, a resident of the building, was identified as a suspect and taken into custody at the scene without incident.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Kasawat is an electrical engineer who went to Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, where he later became an adjunct instructor.
His other former jobs include time as a prescription engineer and sales engineer, both in Al-Riyadh Governorate, Saudi Arabia.
Alfaisal University did not immediately respond to a Daily Voice email about Kasawat's tenure there.
Kasawat is being held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility. No return court date has been announced.
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