Suspect in mobile home fire arraigned on arson charges
NEW PHILADELPHIA – The 24-year-old suspect in a weekend fire that destroyed two mobile homes and damaged another was arraigned Tuesday morning on aggravated arson and other charges.
Police Chief Tessa Pohovey says Chance Cawley was served warrants Tuesday morning for two felony counts of aggravated arson, arson, breaking and entering, and criminal trespass in response to the Sunday morning fire in the 300 block of 11th Street Northwest.
Sheriff’s records indicate Cawley was booked into the Tuscarawas County Jail Sunday afternoon and remains there today.
Pohovey confirmed Cawley used to live in the home where the fire started but was evicted and has been homeless since. Court records give a Coshocton address for Cawley.
She says Cawley told police he threw a cigarette on a pile of trash inside the home. She says witnesses saw him leaving the scene and police found him a short time later and about a block away.
She says it’s fortunate no one was hurt. Police and firefighters fought their way through thick smoke to evacuate neighbors in a home on one side and pets in a home on the other.
Pohovey says the state fire marshal continues to investigate. The Tuscarawas County Grand Jury will review the charges for a potential indictment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5.