A Kansas man was charged Friday in connection with a fire that damaged a ceremonial tipi at Haskell Indian Nations University.
Thirty-two-year-old Ryan Adam Sekayouma Simpson, of Lawrence, was charged with arson, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor criminal trespassing, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
The tipi, which was built to honor the 2020 graduating class at Haskell, was destroyed by fire early on May 9 at the school's campus in Lawrence. The Lawrence-Douglas County fire department said Monday the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping with the investigation. Simpson was arrested Thursday.
