Authorities ID & Charge 1 Suspect In Newark Arsons

NEWARK, Ohio -- A suspect was charged with two counts of arson Wednesday after a series of arsons in Newark over a span of about a dozen days.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

Newark police arrested Matthew Craig, 28, Tuesday evening and charged him with felony first-degree aggravated arson.

Investigators talked to a witness Tuesday who said he had contact with Craig and Craig had admitted to him that he was responsible for starting both fires.

Craig was accused in two of the 10 confirmed arsons: the set fires at 105 S. 5th St. at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 and 148 S. 5th St. at 8:32 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Craig has a criminal past that includes the following previous charges: disorderly conduct, obstructing official business, aggravated possession of drugs and menacing.

He lived alone in an apartment on East Main Street.

"When the fire detective came to me the other day and said he was suspicious of him, I was surprised at the time," said Bob Romine, Craig's landlord.

But Romine also remembered something that stood out in his memory.

"After I got to think about it, a couple days before, I saw him with blisters on the side of his face. I didn't think much of it," Romine said.

One of Craig's neighbors said he seemed friendly, but that he once stood in front of the apartment complex, screaming that he wants to get ahead in the world, but he can't catch a break.

Craig made a bond hearing appearance in a Licking County courtroom at 1 p.m. Wednesday. He was given a $75,000 bond, and he remains in the Licking County Correctional Center.

Craig was to be arraigned next Tuesday. His case was to be presented to the Licking County Grand Jury Friday, Oct. 9. Additional charges may be considered then.

Authorities continued to encourage citizens to come forward with information they may have on the arson fires. Authorities are looking for information on at least two and as many as four additional suspects in the eight other arson fires.

Investigators determined 10 Newark fires were intentionally set in a 12-day period.

Here’s a list of the fires determined to be arson:
- 2:23 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 58 Bolen Ct.
- 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 305 E. Main St.
- An occupied business and apartment at 373 Iron Ave. Sunday, Sept. 27.
- Abandoned home at 332 Buckingham St. Sunday, Sept. 27.
- 10:54 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at 148 E. Main St.
- 8:32 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 148 S. 5th St.
- 8:21 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at 119 W. Railroad St.
- 1:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 at 105 S. 5th St.
- 8:03 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at 156 S. 32nd St.
- 8:03 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 at 182 and 184 E. Main St.

More specific details about how and where the fires started were not released.

Investigators were able to rule out accidental causes and found evidence to support the fires were intentionally set.

A firefighter was injured battling the Buckingham Street fire Sunday.

“We have a concern that someone is going to be seriously injured or killed as these fires continue to escalate from abandoned homes to occupied structures,” said Interim State Fire Marshal Donald C. Cooper. “Now is the time for anyone in the community who has information to come forward and help investigators put a stop to these dangerous crimes.”

A Blue Ribbon Arson Reward of as much as $5,000 has been posted for information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible for the fires.

Anyone with information was asked to call the State Fire Marshal’s Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau at 800-589-2728, Licking County Crime Stoppers at 740-349-6888 or the Newark fire department at 740-364-9329.

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