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Akron Fire Department looking for man wanted in connection to arson fires in Kenmore area

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Posted at 9:24 AM, Jul 02, 2021
and last updated 2021-07-02 20:24:10-04

AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Fire Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person wanted in connection to several arson fires in Akron’s Kenmore area.

The fire department released photos of a man who has been seen in relation to multiple targeted home fires.

He was seen driving in a newer model black Ford Explorer.

No one was injured in any of the incidents.

According to Lt. Sierjie Lash, a Molotov cocktail was tossed into homes four times over the past two weeks.

"Anyone with the intent to start a house fire of any kind, that is very dangerous," Lash said. "Right now, we have not had that injury occur, but we want to prevent it. We don't want fire injuries. We don't want fire deaths."

In the most recent case, a home in the 700 block of Indian Trail was heavily damaged around 2 a.m. on June 28. The same house was firebombed on June 15, but there was not significant damage that day, Lash said.

Two other arson cases, believed to be connected to the same suspect, happened in the 800 block of Indian Trial and the 1500 block of Hillcrest Street.

Investigators believe the people who live at all of the homes are related. It's not clear why they are being targeted.

"At this time, we don't have that information to share, but the closer we get to solving it, the closer we get to catching this individual, it will help us to solve those answers," Lash said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Akron Fire Investigative Bureau at 330-375-2214.

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