Jayden Ries: Tweed Head man faces Boundary St unit fire charges

A prosecutor in the case of a young man who allegedly started a Tweed Heads unit fire after a domestic dispute said it was ‘miraculous’ no one was killed in the blaze.

A man who allegedly threatened to torch a Tweed unit to the ground has made a bail plea to be closer to his family.

Jayden Ries, 23, appeared via videolink in Tweed Heads Local Court on Friday.

Mr Ries was arrested after jumping out of a two storey Boundary St building where he had allegedly started a fire after a domestic dispute with a neighbour on March 18,2022.

A number of police were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation during the event but were otherwise OK.

Magistrate Peter Budgen said Mr Ries allegedly yelled “I’m going to kill everyone, I’m torching this place” before he attempted to burn the unit.

Mr Ries’ neighbour sat in the back of the courtroom, listening to the bail application.

In his opposition for bail, NSW Police Prosecutor Nathan Lockett said the police facts of the alleged fire were “extremely serious”.

“It was miraculous no-one was seriously injured or killed,” he said.

Solicitor Riley Owen said being denied bail would be onerous on the young Mr Ries given his distance from his family in Roma, Queensland.

He said Mr Ries intends to defend the “gravely serious” charges, and a trial date could be more than a year away.

“There’s likely to be a real delay in the matter,” he said.

Mr Owen said, if granted bail, Mr Ries would stay with his aunty in Roma and look into residential rehabilitation options.

The court heard the police case would rely on seven civilian witnesses, seven police officers and two attending firefighters.

Sgt Lockett said there was an unacceptable risk Mr Ries would leave the region or interfere with witnesses if granted bail.
“He’s clearly suffering from unresolved mental health issue and there’s nothing put to the court confirming treatment is sought or is available,” he said.

Magistrate Budgen refused bail.

Mr Ries has not entered pleas on the charges of five charges of destroying/damaging property with intent to endanger life, destroying/damaging property, contravening an apprehended violence order, common assault, aggravated break and enter while armed, stalking/intimidation, two counts of domestic-related common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He adjourned Mr Ries until August 12 before Tweed Heads Local Court.