Five teens were arrested in connection to the arson and damages to the historic Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse.
According to the City of Green, at 4:51 a.m. on Aug. 9 the fire department responded to a call of a structural fire at Boettler Park, located at 5300 Massillon Rd. The schoolhouse was fully engulfed when they arrived.
The State Fire Marshal ruled the fire as an arson. The city reported a breaking and entering at a restroom and vandalism at the Heritage Hill Playground. There was also vandalism and breaking and entering at a concession facility at Ariss Park, located at 2520 Wise Rd.
On Aug. 10, Summit County sheriff's detectives conducted a search at a residence located on Mayfair Circle in Springfield Township. Investigators found several of the items that were stolen from the concession stand at Ariss Park. Throughout the investigation, detectives were able to identify the suspects responsible for the crimes at both locations.
The suspects were identified as:
- A 16-year-old boy from Springfield Township
- A 16-year-old girl from Springfield Township
- A 16-year-old boy from Akron
- Brandyn McCroskey, 18, of Springfield Township
- Matthew R. Swan, 19, of Springfield Township
The sheriff's office said each suspect was arrested and charged with breaking and entering, vandalism, and arson. The adults were booked into the Summit County Jail and the juvenile suspects were taken to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center.
“Thank you to the Summit County Sheriff, Green’s Fire Division and the Ohio State Fire Marshal for their quick work in finding the individuals who caused this irreparable damage to our beloved historical schoolhouse,” Mayor of Green Gerard Neugebauer said.
The school was the fourth one room schoolhouse built in Green Township and served children living in both Green and Jackson Township in Stark County, according to the Green Historical Society.
