Christian D. Keene, 18, of 1224 S. Main St., was charged Saturday with attempted aggravated arson after he allegedly lit a fire starting log inside Walmart, 2281 S. Main St.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were called to the store shortly after 4 p.m. and met store employees. A four-pack of logs were found in the camping area with multiple burn marks after staff were alerted to the smell of smoke in the area.
Officers noted there were small propane tanks on a nearby shelf.
Video surveillance showed Keene and another suspect in the area messing with something in the area of the logs.
Keene met with officers at his home and agreed to talk. He told them he was at the store to hand in a copy of his high school diploma as a store new hire.
After handing in the paperwork, Keene and a friend went to the camping section where Keene spotted waterproof matches and was curious if the item worked as advertised
He told officers he took one from a box; licked it to wet it; and then struck it on the box.
It flamed up and he could not put it out so he stuck it to the logs and it went out.
Officers conferred with the Logan County Prosecutor’s Officer before arresting Keene and lodging him in the Logan County Jail.