MIDLAND — A man is in custody after Clinton County and Hamilton County Sheriff’s officers responded to a burning van with possible incendiary devices at Midland Tire at State Route 28 and U.S. 68 early Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday at approximately 3:55 a.m. the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a van on fire near the intersection of SR 28 & US 68. The caller further advised that he observed a subject running from the area of the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies as well as units from the Jefferson Township and Martinsville fire departments were dispatched to the van fire.
When officers arrived, a witness advised the direction in which the suspect had fled. Police say a search of the area by officers led to the apprehension of Steven Boris, 28, who advised the officers that “he ignited the fire inside the van and had also placed open propane tanks inside a camper along with an ignition device that would be triggered when the door was opened,” according to a press release from the CCSO.
Upon receiving this information, a perimeter was set up to re-direct traffic as well as an evacuation of residents in the immediate area to ensure the public’s safety. Assistance was requested from the Hamilton County Bomb Squad to assess and render the camper safe.
Boris is currently being held at the Clinton County Adult Detention Center on an unrelated probation violation charge. Charges for arson, criminal damage and inducing panic are being reviewed by the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Incidents such as this require multiple resources to come to a successful and safe conclusion, and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the following agencies “for their assistance and professionalism”: Blanchester Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Jefferson Township Fire Department, Martinsville Fire Department, Blanchester EMS, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Hamilton County Bomb Squad, State Fire Marshal’s Office, The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
