Missouri man charged with setting more than a dozen grass fires near Milpitas

Authorities say a Missouri man is suspected of flying to California and lighting multiple fires by throwing flaming pieces paper from his rental car onto grassy foothills in the South Bay last weekend. 

A Missouri man accused of arson in the South Bay was charged with 15 counts of arson on Thursday. 

Authorities said Freddie Graham, 68, was jailed on $500,000 bail.

Graham is suspected of flying to California and lighting multiple fires by throwing flaming pieces of paper from his rental car onto grassy foothills in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The East Bay Times reported on Wednesday that he ignited more than a dozen fires in a 24-hour span last weekend near Milpitas. 

Santa Clara County prosecutors say the man was arrested while returning the car at San Jose airport thanks to a witness who wrote down the license plate. 

It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney. Graham, of Lone Jack, Missouri, has been arraigned on 15 arson-related charges. 

Graham has no connection to California and it's not known why he started the fires or why he targeted the Bay Area.