New Philadelphia police arrest arson suspect after restaurant fire
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Police have arrested a man suspected of trying to set fire to the Applebee’s restaurant by New Towne Mall around midnight on Friday.
CONNOR KOKINSKI (TCSO)
Connor Kokinski, 23, of New Philadelphia is charged with two counts of aggravated arson. The case was filed in New Philadelphia Municipal Court on Wednesday, but Kokinski has been in the Tuscarawas County Jail since Monday with a court appearance pending.
New Philadelphia Fire Chief Jim Parrish said crews were able to quickly put out a fire between a door and a window at Applebee’s on Graff Road around midnight Friday after employees noticed smoke in the building and called 9-1-1.
Police Chief Tessa Pohovey said her department and the State Fire Marshal were called in to investigate. Through surveillance video they determined the fire was intentionally set and identified a suspect. She says they brought the suspect in for questioning and arrested him at the police station, charging him with first- and second-degree felonies. The charges are severe because it was an occupied structure.
Pohovey did not share information on a possible motive. Parrish said the fire did not get inside the building, and damage was limited to the exterior near the front door.