Arson attempt fails
Boardman High
STAFF REPORT
BOARDMAN — Wood, plastic and a propane tank were used in a failed attempt at setting Boardman High School on fire.
Township police said they were informed of a possible arson attempt at the high school just after 10 p.m. Sunday after an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper stopped a man on a routine traffic violation.
Boardman Police Sgt. Chuck Hillman said the man began telling the trooper that he tried to burn down the school on Saturday.
“In the course of the stop during conversation with the trooper, the suspect began saying things to implicate himself,” Hillman said.
He said the trooper then informed the Boardman Police Department.
Once on the scene, officers reportedly found a piece of burned plastic around a piece of firewood and a propane tank in front of the northwest door of the performing arts center.
The police report states the man told the trooper, “I can’t believe the high school is still standing. Last night I tried to burn it down ... I drove by this morning hoping to see it burnt to the ground, but it wasn’t.”
Hillman said until the state trooper called Boardman police, no officers had heard any reports of a fire at the school.
“We had no idea that anything had even occurred there,” he said.
Hillman said the man was transported to Northside Medical Center in Youngstown for a 72-hour mental evaluation.
He said no arrests have been made, but police are investigating this case as well as several other recent vandalism reports they think could be related.