Arsonist Arrested in Kent Tuesday Morning

A Canton man has been charged with arson following a few small fires set on University Drive early Tuesday morning.

Kent police arrested Maxx A. Totten, 24, just after 3 a.m. on Sherman Street following about a 40-minute search in the Crain Avenue area.

Kent Police Lt. Paul Canfield said an officer was driving by and spotted a fire in the shrubbery at 302 University Drive at 2:22 a.m.

"He observed the shrubs on fire there (and) saw a person running from the scene," Canfield said.

He said the officer chased the suspect, but the suspect initially eluded police. Officers set up a perimeter, and cop cars cruised slowly through the Crain Avenue area spotlighting the neighborhood during the search, according to police radio traffic.

Officers arrested Totten almost an hour later on Sherman Street.

Kent Fire Capt. John Tosko said they found scorch marks on a cooler in the front yard of the University Drive address, but there was no fire when firefighters arrived. They did smell an odor of gasoline in the front yard.

Canfield said Totten has been charged with one count of aggravated arson, a first-degree felony, because the shrubs that were set on fire were next to an occupied structure.

Totten was arraigned in Kent Municipal Court this morning and was held on a $15,000 bond. Portage County Municipal Court Judge Kevin Poland ordered Totten to have no contact with the residents at 302 University Drive.

A preliminary hearing is set for Friday morning before Poland.