Local

Bible, pews set on fire inside Shelby County church

UPDATE @ 12:15 p.m. (Aug. 29): 

A church trustee said at least six fires were set inside the sanctuary of the Green View United Church of Christ on Aug. 21.

RELATED: Juvenile arrested in connection to suspicious apartment fire

Bill Manson, the Chairman of Church Trustees at the Green View United Church of Christ said the damage included a Bible that was set on fire on the alter. Two other fires were set on tables used by the bell choir, ad the cushions of three pews were also set on fire.

Shelby County Sheriff John Lenhart said the investigation into the fire is ‘winding down.’ Lenhart said earlier the fire was being investigated as arson, and asked for the state fire marshal’s office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to rule out or confirm the incident was a hate crime.

An award up to $5,000 is being offered for information. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 937-498-1111.

UPDATE @ 2:36 p.m. (Aug. 24)

An award of up to $5,000 is being offered for information in this suspected arson fire at a church. If you know something, call Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 937-498-1111.

UPDATE @ 11:55 a.m. (Aug. 22)

Shelby County Sheriff John Lenhart said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was requested to determine or rule out if a suspicious fire at the Green View United Church of Christ was a hate crime.

TRENDING: Confederate statue in Columbus cemetery vandalized

“There’s no question about it, its arson,” Lenhart said. “The ATF has expertise if it is some sort of hate crime or if its something involving propellants. With all due respect they’ll supplement the state fire marshal’s office.”

Lenhart said if anyone has information to help investigators they should contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 937-498-1111.

UPDATE @ 11:10 a.m. (Aug. 22)

Investigators said a fire that broke out at a Shelby County church Monday evening is suspicious.

The fire was discovered by two church members who arrived for a meeting at the Green View United Church of Christ at 3041 Leatherwood Creek Road around 5:20 p.m. Monday.

More local news from the Northern Bureau

Officials said the damage was contained to the inside of the church and the fire ended up burning itself out.

Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the blaze.

We’ll continue to update this page as we learn more.

FIRST REPORT (Aug. 21) 

The state fire marshal is investigating a church fire in Shelby County Monday evening, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple fire crews are responding to the fire at Green View United Church of Christ first reported around 5:20 p.m. in the 3000 block of Leatherwood Creek Road.

Dispatchers said no one was injured in the fire, but could not confirm if the fire was considered suspicious.

Fire units from Fletcher, Rosewood and Sidney assisted Port Jefferson firefighters at the church sitting about 8 miles southeast of Sidney.

Our newsroom is working to learn more and confirm details in this developing story.

GOT A TIP? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com

0
Comments on this article