MANSFIELD, Ohio—A student at Eastview Elementary School in Madison township has admitted to starting a fire in a bathroom stall on the second floor at Eastview Elementary on Wednesday.
Superintendent Lee Kaple said the school custodian discovered a toilet paper roll in one of the restroom stalls had been set on fire.
The Madison Fire Department was called to the scene at 10:11 a.m. Mifflin Township Fire Department provided mutual aid.
Capt. Mike Shears with the Madison Fire Department said students had to evacuate the building for roughly 12-15 minutes while they contained the fire. No injuries were reported, he said.
Kaple said an investigation of the incident was carried out between the school authorities and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office. He said, “The school authorities, in conjunction with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, have completed their investigation. The suspect was guilty of the act and has admitted to it.”
He said the student will be suspended and recommended for expulsion.
Sheriff’s Maj. Joe Masi said the juvenile’s statement from the interview they conducted has been sent to the prosecutor’s office for review, “and then they’ll decide whether there’s any charges that will be filed,” he said.
He said arson is a possible charge, “But ultimately it’s going to be up to the prosecutor to decide how they charge it. They may charge it as a criminal damaging, or they may charge it as an aggravated arson,” he explained.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges have been filed. And John Nieft, an assistant Richland County Prosecutor, couldn’t comment on the investigation as it is still ongoing.
