CANNODE |
KENTON — A suspect is in custody in connection with the four arson fires which were set early Saturday morning in the southwest section of Kenton.
Kenton Police Chief Dennis Musser identified the suspect as Dustin Cannode, 30, of Kenton.
Cannode was picked up Wednesday afternoon on a probation violation for an earlier drug offense, said the chief. Additional charges are pending.
Musser said Cannode is considered responsible for the fires at 715 Leonard Street, 726 Tracy Street, 609 Walnut Street and a house on S. Leighton Street. The fires started at 2 a.m. Saturday and resulted in ten area fire departments responding to the scene. There were no injuries as a result of the fires, but the home of Gladys Adkins was a total loss.
Cannode was taken to the Multi-County Jail in Marion where he is being held on the probation violation charge.
Musser declined to comment if Cannode had confessed to starting the fires and said more details on the investigation that led to the arrest will be available after he is charged.
Members of the Hardin County Fire and Explosion Team began searching the scene for clues to the origin of the fires shortly after they were extinguished.
That investigation, led by Sheriff’s Detective Mike Conley, worked tirelessly to determine who was responsible.
Musser praised Conley in particular for his leadership in the process.
“He worked endlessly on this,” the chief said.
The Fire and Explosion Team consists of representatives of the Kenton Police Department, Kenton Fire Department and Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
Musser said the investigation was a good example of working well together for a common cause.
Over the weekend, Musser had said there was no pattern to the fires and they appeared to have been set randomly.
“The past few days have been hectic, but I am glad we could put the people at ease with this arrest,” he said. “Now I’m asking for them to be patient through the rest of the process.”