Fire caused $100,000 damage and displacement of 30 residents on the south side of St. Cloud just after midnight early morning Tuesday.

St. Cloud Police Lieutenant Jeff Oxton says officers were dealing with an investigation of a case in the parking lot of a 30-unit complex at the 1609 7th Street Southeast when they noticed a suspicious man running from the east side of the building. The officers tried to stop him, but he fled and a pursuit followed. 26-year-old Samuel Benedict Davis of St. Cloud was caught and arrested.

Right after his arrest, officers saw smoke coming out of the building and found out a ground level unit was on fire. They asked all the tenants to leave the building and Fire Department was called to put out the fire. The residents of the unit on fire were not there at the time the fire began. No injuries were reported.

Two other apartments on the floor above the ground level sustained minor damage from smoke and water. All the occupants except the three units were allowed to go back to their apartments. Oxton says the investigation shows Davis has had strong ties to the first unit that received the most of damage in the fire. The cause of fire is alleged to be arson. Davis was taken to the Benton County Jail facing charges of 1st degree arson and obstructing legal process. Oxton says the investigation is still active.