NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Hermitage community members faced some frightening moments overnight after a mattress was set on fire inside a motel filled with guests. The incident unfolded around 1:25 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 at a motel just off Interstate 40 along Percy Priest Drive. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, Michael Morris set the mattress on fire inside room 211, causing flames and smoke to fill the motel room.

A woman staying at the motel described those moments of panic as people saw the flames and started yelling to make sure everyone could evacuate. One man told News 2 that he, along with the others, had to physically remove Morris from the smoke-filled room and throw the mattress into the parking lot.  While all this was happening, police said Morris pushed his way into a downstairs room and got into a brawl with another man, who was with his girlfriend and son.

By this point, members of the Nashville Fire Department had pulled up to the scene and begun attending to the fire. That’s when Morris reportedly tried to steal an arriving fire truck, police said. Firefighters pulled Morris out of the fire truck and authorities stated the 31-year-old stole a van and drove it to another motel nearby, where he reportedly barged into a guest’s room and locked the door.

Officials told News 2 that Morris experienced burns and smoke inhalation, so he was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he is currently listed in stable condition. When he’s released from the hospital, he faces a slew of charges, including aggravated arson, burglary, and theft of a vehicle. Metro Police said Morris has a minor arrest record for drug possession and failure to be booked.

FULL STORY HERE