AKRON, Ohio — U.S. Marshals arrested a 36-year-old man as part of an arson investigation into the Roush's Market fire over the weekend.
The fire department was called to the Akron market early Saturday morning, with the business fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters believed early on that the fire had been set intentionally.
"That's not normal at all to destroy the neighborhood store like that," property owner Nick Abbas said.
Akron fire officials said the crucial piece of evidence was a surveillance video that showed a man pouring gasoline or some other accelerant behind Roush's on Thornton Street 20 minutes before the store went up in flames.
"He walked away, and you kind of see him lighting the fire in a separate video that is not public yet," the property owner's son, Ashraf Abbas, said.
On Monday, a warrant for arson was issued for the arrest of Manuel Eliezer Ramirez-Molina.
The store owners believe he was in the store a few days before the fire and was told to leave for shoplifting. Fire investigators are looking into that as a possible motive.
"This is a crime that can quickly devastate a community," Assistant Chief of the U.S. Marshals Anne Murphy said.
Ramirez-Molina was arrested in a wooded area just a few blocks away from Roush's at the intersection of Howe Street and Leroy Avenue, investigators said. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Marshals believe Ramirez-Molina is from Mexico and is in the U.S. illegally.
"He will work through his charges here locally before anything happens with deportation or anything with our federal partners like ICE, anything like that," Murphy said.
The property and store owners say they're relieved by the arrest and are now working with a restoration company to rebuild the store, which has served Akron for generations.
"For me, it's just a matter of keeping him away from the community members here, and in Ohio, so that we could be safe," Ashraf Abbas said.
The store has been around for more than 70 years.
"You can't crush our spirit, and the whole community is rallying behind Roush's, and it gives us a reason, such a good reason to rebuild," Ashraf Abbas said.
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Local officials look forward to the store's eventual return.
“Although a devastating crime, this criminal and his complete disregard for our community will not break the spirits of the Akron community. With this fugitive behind bars so quickly, the Akron community can focus on supporting this business and help rebuild this long-standing Akron establishment," U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement.
"I'm grateful to the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force for their swift work to safely apprehend the suspect in this devastating arson,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “Anyone who puts lives, businesses, and neighborhoods at risk through violent criminal acts must be held accountable. Our focus remains on supporting the Roush's Market family and surrounding neighborhood. Akron has always responded to difficult moments by coming together, and I know this community will do the same again in this moment."
