By Rachel Engel
FireRescue1
FLINT, Mich. — A man was arrested last week and arraigned on charges Monday related to the February death of a Flint firefighter.
Jabez Bobo pleaded not guilty to a charge of open murder and first-degree arson, mlive.com reported.
An open murder designation allows a prosecutor to wait to charge the defendant with either first- or second-degree murder or manslaughter, per a 1986 Michigan Supreme Court ruling.
The charges stem from a Feb. 25 mobile home park fire, where Bobo allegedly started the blaze that led to the death of Firefighter Ricky Hill Jr., 49, who collapsed at the scene. Hill was rushed to a nearby medical center where he was pronounced dead.
Evidence linking Bobo to the scene led to his arrest on Friday, March 3. He is currently being held on $100,000 bond in the Genesee County Jail.