Tweet
From Officer.com:
Security Guard Starts Fire at Paint Plant
The circumstances were too similar not to raise suspicions: two early morning fires a little more than a month apart at a local paint processing plant -- and the same guard on duty both times.
By late Sunday, the guard found himself under arrest, accused of setting the fire earlier that day that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to Plasti-Kote Co. on Lake Road.
Kevin Watson, 19, of Wadsworth, was arraigned Monday in Medina Municipal Court on a felony count of aggravated arson.
Charges related to the first fire, which started just before 2 a.m. Dec. 25, probably will be handled by a grand jury, Medina Police Lt. Bob Starcher said.
Watson is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond in the Medina County Jail.
Detective Mark Kollar, who was called out to the 3 a.m. fire Sunday, said Watson initially denied any involvement.
But during an interview that stretched for more than five hours, he finally said he did it.
According to Kollar, Watson offered a variety of explanations that included saying he blacked out, that he heard voices in his head and that he hoped to someday be a firefighter and wanted to meet them.
``He had a fascination with fire,'' Kollar said.
Watson was employed by Securitas Security Services USA Inc., a nationwide security firm once known as Pinkerton.
Kollar said Watson had been with the company for about 11 months, and he was not aware of any fires occurring at any other buildings for which Watson would have been responsible.
The fire Sunday occurred in the production area of Plasti-Kote, which makes and distributes spray paints and coatings worldwide. Fire Chief William Herthneck said it was contained quickly -- within about 10 minutes -- thanks to the fire suppression system installed inside the large building.
Herthneck said it was obvious that the fire Sunday had been started in at least three places inside the building, which prompted the call to Kollar.
The December fire occurred in a warehouse behind the main complex and caused $75,000 to $100,000 in damage, he said. The December fire is being investigated as an arson. Police and fire officials are awaiting test results from Columbus to confirm their suspicions.
Both Herthneck and Starcher declined to say what was used to start the fires. Herthneck said cleanup was well under way at the plant by Monday afternoon, and it was expected that only one work shift would be lost.
But the fire did more than damage equipment and computers, he said.
He said the fire destroyed research being conducted for roughly three months in an oven in the production area.
A woman at Plasti-Kote on Monday referred all calls to the Medina Police Department.
---
Cost of Psych Test? Under $100
Cost of Background Investigation? $75.00-$250.00
Cost of not hiring a pyromaniac? Priceless.
Some things only common sense can buy. For everything else, there's Business MasterCard.
Security Guard Starts Fire at Paint Plant
The circumstances were too similar not to raise suspicions: two early morning fires a little more than a month apart at a local paint processing plant -- and the same guard on duty both times.
By late Sunday, the guard found himself under arrest, accused of setting the fire earlier that day that caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to Plasti-Kote Co. on Lake Road.
Kevin Watson, 19, of Wadsworth, was arraigned Monday in Medina Municipal Court on a felony count of aggravated arson.
Charges related to the first fire, which started just before 2 a.m. Dec. 25, probably will be handled by a grand jury, Medina Police Lt. Bob Starcher said.
Watson is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond in the Medina County Jail.
Detective Mark Kollar, who was called out to the 3 a.m. fire Sunday, said Watson initially denied any involvement.
But during an interview that stretched for more than five hours, he finally said he did it.
According to Kollar, Watson offered a variety of explanations that included saying he blacked out, that he heard voices in his head and that he hoped to someday be a firefighter and wanted to meet them.
``He had a fascination with fire,'' Kollar said.
Watson was employed by Securitas Security Services USA Inc., a nationwide security firm once known as Pinkerton.
Kollar said Watson had been with the company for about 11 months, and he was not aware of any fires occurring at any other buildings for which Watson would have been responsible.
The fire Sunday occurred in the production area of Plasti-Kote, which makes and distributes spray paints and coatings worldwide. Fire Chief William Herthneck said it was contained quickly -- within about 10 minutes -- thanks to the fire suppression system installed inside the large building.
Herthneck said it was obvious that the fire Sunday had been started in at least three places inside the building, which prompted the call to Kollar.
The December fire occurred in a warehouse behind the main complex and caused $75,000 to $100,000 in damage, he said. The December fire is being investigated as an arson. Police and fire officials are awaiting test results from Columbus to confirm their suspicions.
Both Herthneck and Starcher declined to say what was used to start the fires. Herthneck said cleanup was well under way at the plant by Monday afternoon, and it was expected that only one work shift would be lost.
But the fire did more than damage equipment and computers, he said.
He said the fire destroyed research being conducted for roughly three months in an oven in the production area.
A woman at Plasti-Kote on Monday referred all calls to the Medina Police Department.
---
Cost of Psych Test? Under $100
Cost of Background Investigation? $75.00-$250.00
Cost of not hiring a pyromaniac? Priceless.
Some things only common sense can buy. For everything else, there's Business MasterCard.
Comment