Man charged with trying to burn school

Man charged with trying to burn school

staff report

BOARDMAN — A West Boulevard man has been charged with trying to set fire to the high school.

Police arrested Larry Taylor, 30, Monday in the psychiatric ward of Forum Health Northside Medical Center. He appeared in Mahoning County Court here Tuesday. He was taken to the Mahoning County Jail and held on $9,250 bond. He is to appear in court next week for a preliminary hearing.

Wood, plastic and a propane tank were used in the failed April 4 attempt to burn the school.

Taylor was stopped the same day on a routine traffic stop by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Taylor began to tell the trooper about his attempt to torch the school, police have said. The trooper notified township police.

Upon his Monday arrest, Taylor told police: “I snapped. I tried to burn down the school,” according to a police report.

Taylor also is charged with two other counts of arson, both on March 13: a mailbox was set on fire on Squirrel Hill Drive and a shed was set on fire on Becky Court.