A court hearing for Bryan Timothy Purdie, charged with arson and insurance fraud, started Thursday at Freeborn County District Court.

Friday, October 19, 2001

A court hearing for Bryan Timothy Purdie, charged with arson and insurance fraud, started Thursday at Freeborn County District Court. His defense attorney said after the hearing that Purdie would enter a not-guilty plea.

In the hearing Judge James Broberg ordered that Purdie cannot leave the state without court permission except for working. Purdie has never been under custody in connection with the case. His next hearing is scheduled on Nov. 1.

Purdie is accused of setting fire to his furniture store, Woodgrains, in downtown Albert Lea on Dec. 6 last year in an attempt to get insurance money. According to the complaint he filed $234,000 in damage claims after the fire, but the insurance company denied them.

Outside the courtroom, defense attorney Donald Wayne Savelkoul affirmed that Purdie would plead innocent. Purdie will challenge the charges by alleging the fire was an accident, according to Savelkoul.