ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — A Ross County homeowner was awoken to flames coming from an outbuilding on his property late Sunday evening.
According to the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the 2200 block of Massieville Road shortly after 10:30 p.m. on a structure fire.
Reports from the sheriff’s office say the homeowner told deputies that he and his girlfriend were asleep when someone came to their residence asking for gas. The couple went on to tell deputies that moments later, they discovered the outbuilding fully engulfed in flames.
The other resident also provided details regarding the man who asked for gas. The woman reported that she did not recognize the individual and told him the nearby gas station was closed. She went on to describe the individual as a man with a beard who was wearing a dark colored jacket and hat.
The homeowner said there was over $1,000 worth of property inside the building.
One individual was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for drug paraphernalia.
Dwight Whitt, officials said, was interviewed by investigators and admitted to going to the residence in search of help after running out of gas. Whitt denied knowing anything about the fire and insisted that he always had the dashcam of his vehicle on that would show the entire incident. Investigators were given access to the dashcam, which had no recording saved during the time of the fire.
No further details were provided at the time of this publication.
The investigation, officials said, has been turned over to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and is being investigated as arson.