Park City man charged with armed break-in at ski resort facility following RV blaze

Third Judicial District Court District. Photo: Will Scadden // Townlift

PARK CITY — A Summit County man is facing a slate of charges after police say he set fire to his RV, then broke into a Park City Mountain Resort warehouse and fired multiple shots inside.

William Dougherty, 39, was formally charged Wednesday in Summit County’s 3rd District Court with aggravated burglary, three counts of property damage, reckless burning, and theft, according to court records.

The incident unfolded on Sept. 6, when neighbors reported hearing an explosion and saw Dougherty’s RV engulfed in flames outside a Park City home. Witnesses said he drove away in a pickup as firefighters and neighbors worked to extinguish the blaze.

Later that day, an employee arrived at a resort warehouse near Park Avenue and Kearns Boulevard to find the entrance heavily damaged. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Dougherty shooting his way inside, then firing additional rounds that tore into the ceiling and interior.

Prosecutors say Dougherty grabbed a bottle of bourbon from a refrigerator before leaving. A bicycle inside was hit by gunfire, and the employee’s parked truck was also struck. Vail Resorts estimated the damage at more than $5,000.

Park City police tracked Dougherty to Deer Valley Resort and arrested him. A search of his vehicle reportedly turned up a loaded AR-15-style rifle with matching ammunition.

No injuries were reported in the incident.