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Five arson fires on Hilltop over weekend
Three houses on Belvidere Avenue caught fire June 25 within a four hour period. The Columbus Division of Fire Arson Team spotted a suspect at approximately 12:30 a.m. while taking surveillance of the neighborhood June 26. According to Battalion Chief Michael Fowler, the suspect was found at the Wendy’s on West Broad Street and I-70, arrested by the Columbus Fire Bomb and Fire Investigators and detained for questioning. The suspect, Michael C. Taylor, admitted to setting a total of five fires the afternoon of June 25 and was charged with arson, said Fowler. More felony charges are expected to come in the following week. The five charges Taylor will face are for the alleged arson of three homes and a garage on Belvidere Avenue and for setting a Port-a-John on fire on government grounds. According to court documents, Taylor faced felony arson charges in 2010 for allegedly setting a garage fire but the case was dismissed. Fowler added that, in a non-related arson fire on Nassau Drive, a suspect had been caught and an investigation is underway.
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