UPDATE: Man accused of torching ex-girlfriend's truck, house

AUSTINTOWN

An ex-boyfriend was arrested early today for allegedly setting fire to a woman's home, vehicle, and garage.

John P. Petroff, 41 of Youngstown, was arraigned in Mahoning County Area Court on five aggravated arson charges. His bond has been set at $250,000 cash or surety. No pleas were accepted due to the charges being felonies.

Petroff said he is currently unemployed and will have a court appointed attorney. His preliminary hearing is being scheduled.

He was arrested by township police for a violation of a protection order against his ex-girlfriend early today and the fire department had planned to file charges. Officials from the Austintown Fire Department were present for his arraignment.

Police found Petroff at a nearby home from his ex-girlfriend's home with burns on his leg and skin dripping off his leg and told police he had been home all night.

Petroff is alleged to have set fire to 160 S. Navarre Ave. and authorities were called to the house fire 12:14 a.m. Wednesday.

A neighbor saw Petroff running from the fire, himself on fire, and take some clothes off on that neighbor's yard and flee into the back door of 3921 Potomac Ave., a report said.

The ex-girlfriend told police she saw flames coming from underneath her truck, which was partially in the garage, and while she was trying to leave the home, the garage "exploded into flames."

The report said there was fire damage to the truck, garage, and home of 160 S. Navarre Ave.