Suspect charged after small fire at Great Falls hotel

GREAT FALLS — Julius John Erving Lowe has been charged with arson after allegedly starting a fire at the Grizzly Inn in Great Falls on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Great Falls Fire Department responded to the blaze just after 6 p.m. at 1214 13th Street South, where hotel occupants were evacuating, and smoke was seen coming from Room 130.

Firefighters found a smoking mattress in the room and quickly extinguished the mattress and other small fires. The fire was contained to room 130.

Court documents say the damage will require extensive repairs and the cost of replacement items will exceed $1,500.

Minor smoke damage was noted in the first floor hallway; no other rooms were damaged.

A hotel occupant was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

Lowe, 28, was arrested by police at the scene.

He reportedly said he had an altercation with people who were disabling the alarms and threatening him, and set fire to toilet paper to set off the smoke detectors in order to “neutralize the system.”

Court documents indicate that Lowe has multiple convictions in other states, including attempted murder, battery and presenting a false ID to an officer. He also has a history of parole and probation violations.