Fire At Alesci's, Creative Playrooms: Arrest Made In Solon

SOLON, OH — Flames lit up the night on July 19. A caller dialed the fire department and told them they saw something glowing near Alesci's and Creative Playrooms. Police now believe that caller may have set fire to the area behind the businesses.

More than 10 firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fires in about 15 minutes. Neither Alesci's or Creative Playrooms suffered serious damage due to the blaze, Solon Fire Chief William Shaw told Patch. Both businesses were open on July 20.

Investigators then began looking into what caused the fires. They found no accidental or natrural explanation for the fire, Shaw said. There was no indication of a lightning strike, for example. The location of the flames, the fact there were multiple fires and other factors led investigators to determine this was a case of arson.

Shaw noted that this was a very unusual incident for the city. "We don't have fires in Solon, usually, and we we don't get fires that start side-by-side," he said, adding that the curious nature of the blaze sparked the interest of investigators immediately.

Arson is very difficult to prove and investigations can last weeks, Shaw said. But police narrowed in on a suspect quickly — the caller that tipped off firefighters.

Both Shaw and Solon Police said the caller was a 22-year-old man that was staying at the Solon Motel. Officers were looking into the man for two breaking-and-entering cases that happened at Butcher's Pantry on July 23 and H&H Towing on July 25. They linked the man to the call and interviewed him.

Sources told Patch that police may have gotten the suspect to confess to the arson case.

A Creative Playrooms employee told Patch no one was at the business at the time of the fire and no one was hurt. The daycare is now up-and-running again, the employee said. An Alesci's employee said the fire did not enter the store and did no damage to the building.

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