Crime & Safety

Teen Set House on Fire to Hide Smoking: Police

The 15-year-old initially denied involvement, but later admitted to ransacking house and starting fires, police said.

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Beth Dalbey, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Police say a 15-year-old Canton boy ransacked his own home and started a fire to hide the fact he had been smoking from his mother.

Police were called to the home on East Franklin Drive about 5 p.m. on Oct. 20 to investigate the fire, which began when a plastic dish tub was placed on a hot stove burner, Hometownlife.com reports.

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An upstairs window screen had been removed and placed on the floor to make it appear as though the house had been burglarized, police said.

The fire was out by the time Canton firefighters arrived, but upon investigation, officials discovered a pile of papers in an upstairs room had been ignited, boxes in the basement had been ransacked and contained traces of charred paper, a flat-screen TV had shoe prints on the screen, a child’s chemistry set was scattered about the house, a lamp had been tipped over, and a computer had been smashed.

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The teen denied involvement initially, but admitted later he had caused the fire to cover up his smoking, police said.

He has been turned over to Wayne County juvenile authorities.

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