Jonathan Rawlins, of the Booker T. Washington Building apartment 3 on Offnere Street, was arrested in connection with a Friday fire that destroyed a church in Scioto Furnace, according to a sheriff's report.
The sheriff's office was called Friday at 5:14 a.m. to 191 Great Meadow Road, where a fire had engulfed the Scioto Furnace United Methodist Church.
Ellis Cook, chief of the Bloom Township Fire Department, had asked for a sheriff's report because of possible arson, according to the document.
The report said in the past several months a series of fires had been set in a Dumpster, located 50 feet from the church.
However, state fire marshal investigators determined the Friday fire was set with bathroom tissue placed in a drop ceiling of the church, and then set on fire.
Cook contacted an arson investigator, who came to the scene.
“But we already had a suspect in custody before he arrived,” said Cook.
The church is considered a total loss with an estimated $200,000 in damages.
Rawlins was arrested by state fire marshal investigators and taken to the Scioto County jail.
According to the Scioto County Common Pleas court docket, Jonathan Rawlins, of 1508 Essman Sugar Camp Road, South Webster, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 23 before Judge William T. Marshall on charges of aggravated arson and arson, filed on June 5.
An earlier charge of aggravated arson, filed on March 17, against Jonathan Rawlins, of 1910 Kendall Ave., Apt. C, Portsmouth, was dismissed on April 26, according to the docket.
FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.
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