Police Investigate Another Suspicious Fire

Clayton police are investigating another suspicious fire.

The same as several other incidents, a structure under construction, this time it's a house at 46 Middlecrest Way, appears to be a case of arson. The unoccupied dwelling is located in the same general area as seven other suspicious fires in unoccupied structures over the last year.

"After preliminary examination of the fire scene by forensic investigators of the Clayton Police and State Bureau of Investigation, information now tends to indicate that the fire was intentionally set," said Chief Glen Allen. "Although it is much too early to speculate on suspects or motives, this fire has similarities with earlier illegal burnings that were in the same general area, were discovered during hours of late night or early morning darkness, and involved properties under construction and unoccupied."

The house was destroyed by the blaze.

The other recent fires, still unsolved, all involved homes under construction---two on Cameo Court last October and one of them again last December, two on Rolling Meadows in January and two more May 2 on Skygrove Drive. Police believe all the home fires are related "because they have a lot of similarities."

One fire, the April 5 fire that destroyed a day care center under construction in the same area, was solved by police within a few weeks. A 13-year-old youth was brought to justice in Juvenile Court in that case. The day care center has since been rebuilt.

Police are offering a reward of $20,000 for information that leads to a conviction. The large reward--$5,000 each from the Police Department, Clayton CrimeStoppers, the NC Governor's office and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms--was first offered months ago, but has not produced any leads.

Clayton police and fire officials are being assisted by the SBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The Chief said investigators have logged more than a thousand hours on the case since the first suspicious fire and plan to continue their efforts "until we solve these cases--all of them."

Police are asking residents to report any suspicious activity by calling the Department at 919-553-4611 or anonymously on the CrimeStoppers hotline at 919-359-8479.