Man Accused In I-85 Overpass Fire Pleads Not Guilty
Fulton County Jail via AP
Basil Eleby, the homeless man accused of starting the March 30 fire that caused the I-85 overpass to collapse, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Fulton County Court.
Eleby was charged with arson and criminal damage to property. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville ordered Eleby’s release on a $10,000 signature bond. Eleby will soon move to Michael & Michael Counseling and Consulting LLC, a substance abuse treatment facility.
“Clearly, the state agreed with us that wrap-around services were in Mr. Eleby’s best interest and not further incarceration,” said Mawuli Davis, one of the four attorneys representing Eleby pro bono.
Davis said Eleby is a “scapegoat.”
“Unfortunately, this catastrophe that is impacting our entire city is not the result of any single one man, but it’s the result of a government that has failed,” Davis said.
The Georgia Department of Transportation stored materials under the overpass that included fiberglass and plastic-coated wiring. GDOT officials said the materials were behind a locked fence.
The judge has ordered Eleby to submit to monthly drug screenings, along with random drug screenings twice a week. He also must stay at least 1,000 yards away from the I-85 collapse site and cannot have any contact with any of the witnesses from the site.
The courtroom was filled with members of various coalitions and organizations who came to support Eleby. Davis said Eleby was surprised by this.
“He was very overwhelmed with the community support. He was almost in disbelief that people were there to support him because he’d seen the negative depictions of him in the media,” Davis said.
Eleby is scheduled to be back in court June 16. The I-85 overpass is scheduled to reopen the day before, on June 15.
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