High school teacher arrested for arson in fire at Canal Place hotel

Officials responding to a fire at a hotel at Canal Place early this morning arrested a Baton Rouge high school teacher and charged him with aggravated arson, according to New Orleans Fire Department spokesman Gregory Davis.

Kelly Messenger, 33, of Baton Rouge, was captured on surveillance video at the Westin Hotel setting fire to a sofa in the lobby area and then taking the elevator to the 11th floor, Davis said. The fire was extinguished by hotel security staff.

NOFD investigators, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the New Orleans Police Department arrested Messenger, a guest at the hotel, after 12 firefighters responded to the alarm at 100 Iberville St. at about 5:21