11-Year-Old Charged With Arson

According to the Delaware County Daily Times, an 11 year-old boy is now charged with setting a fire around 4 p.m. on Monday that forced over a dozen Rainer Road residents from their homes according to Police.

The boy, whose identity is not being revealed because he is a minor, is being held in Lima Detention Center .

He will be held pending a hearing in juvenile court.

Several homes were damaged and one gutted following the fire that started in an adjacent shed.

The Red Cross is assisting families that have been displaced.

Police say this is a case of arson and believe two juveniles started the blaze.

During an interview with officers Merritt J. Harman IV and James Mullen, the boy allegedly confessed that he and a friend set fire to a shed at the rear of a home in the 1500 block of Rainer Road.

The suspect allegedly told investigators he and a friend were hanging out together Monday afternoon. He said his friend showed him a lighter, then said, “Let’s burn something,” according to police.

When the fire began to get out of control, the boy said he tried, unsuccessfully, to put it out, police said.

As the fire grew larger, the boy became frightened and ran.

The juvenile suspect allegedly provided police with a written confession.

A juvenile petition was filed charging the boy with arson and related offenses, causing or risking a catastrophe, failure to prevent a catastrophe, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person

Capt. Kenneth Coalson said the investigation is ongoing.

The same juvenile was arrested three times in the past month for burglary, police said.

Contact Us