‘That was my everything’: Two taxi vans damaged by suspected arsonist

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

By
Jan 9, 2018
X

Middletown police and fire officials are investigating a possible arson fire Monday morning that destroyed two taxi service vans.

Police were called to the 3000 block of Seneca Street at 4:30 a.m. on a report that a van was on fire. While en route, firefighters were told two vans were on fire, and when they arrived, the vans were “fully engulfed in flames,” the police report said.

MORE TRENDING NEWS

» 3 dogs dead, 4 malnourished lead to charges for Butler County woman

» Man charged with dumping body of Middletown woman waives jury trial

This 2016 Chrysler Town & Country van was destroyed Monday morning when two suspects allegedly threw an “incinerating device” at the vehicle that was parked in the 3000 block of Seneca Street. Eventually, two vans that belong to Ace 2 Taxi caught fire around 4:30 a.m. Monday, police said. RICK McCRABB/STAFF

icon to expand image

After viewing a video from the incident, police said they saw two subjects who walked up to the property and threw a “possible incinerating device” toward the vans. Then the subjects ran away, the report said.

The 2016 Chrysler Town & Country vans belong to Ace 2 Taxi, said Crystal Lamb. She was spending the night in South Lebanon after helping her parents move. She was “devastated” when she learned about the fire.

“That was my everything,” she said of the vans. “Everything that I ever worked for. Now it’s gone.”

Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Spaulding said the fire was determined as incinerating, though he refused to release what was used. He said the city’s Arson Task Force is investigating the fire and people have been interviewed.

He said the two vans are valued at about $15,000 each.

Anyone with information is asked to call detective Steve Winters at 513-425-7737.

About the Author