Three people have been charged in connection with a suspicious fire Saturday in the clubhouse of Summer Place development.
Row Rowan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Division was told of a suspicious fire at the clubhouse off Scout Road. The fire department had responded to one fire about 2:30 a.m. After that fire, they were called to a second fire at the same location.
The Rowan County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office determined both fires were intentionally set.
They found Jeremy Blackwell, 22, Robert Nichols, 21, and Justin Merritt, 18 in a camper beside their residence at 773 Playground Lane.
During an interview, one of the suspects admitted the fires had been set, but gave no reason for the crime. The suspects had a 15-year-old with them at the time the first fire was started. The suspects watched as the fire department put the first fire out, then returned and set the second fire.
Sheriff’s Office investigators searched the suspect’s camper and discovered property stolen from a break-in that occurred the week before the fire. Blackwell and Nichols were determined to be responsible for this crime.
Charged were:
– Nichols, 773 Playground Lane, burning other building and breaking, entering and larceny, both felonies; and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, a misdemeanor. Bond was set at $17,500.
– Blackwell, 160 Wiley Lane, burning other building and breaking, entering and larceny, both felonies; and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, a misdemeanor. Bond was set at $15,000.
– Merritt, 225 Dulin Ave., burning other building, a felony, and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, a misdemeanor. Bond is $10,000.