Arson ruled in Washington fire
Washington police said Wednesday they plan to charge a Washington man with arson after he allegedly set fire to his residence Tuesday.
Edwin Davis III, 26, is accused of using charcoal lighter fluid to set the fire just after noon Tuesday at 340 Canton Ave., after a fight with his 21-year-old girlfriend, Tanisha Johnson. The state police fire marshal recovered the remains of a bottle on the first floor of the two-story house. Police said it appears the sofa, love seat and a mattress were sprayed with the fluid.
City police and firefighters said there was smoke coming from the roof when they responded before flames exploded out of the windows on the first and second floor. Witnesses told police they saw Davis running from the house just before seeing smoke.
Johnson told police she and Davis argued earlier the day. He reportedly called her from the nearby house of a friend, asking her for his wallet. She reportedly tossed the wallet out the window of the vehicle she was in, police said. When she tried to leave, Davis allegedly chased the vehicle, throwing rocks at it as she drove off.
Davis reportedly returned to the friend’s house in the 600 block of Broad Street. He allegedly called Johnson, telling her police were coming to her house to arrest her. He then allegedly asked the friend for lighter fluid or gasoline. When the friend told him she didn’t have any, Davis left the house, police said. She told police about 10 minutes later, the house on Canton was on fire. She also told police she saw Davis carrying a bag to and from the house.
The owner of the house, Loretta Domino of Waynesburg, told police she evicted the couple and gave them 48 hours to vacate the residence.
Johnson told police she and the couple’s 2-year-old son would be staying with friends at a Canton Township housing complex.