Man, juvenile arrested after arson in Arcadia

ARCADIA — An Arcadia man and an unidentified juvenile are facing multiple charges after a house fire last month was ruled an arson.

Multiple departments responded to the fire in the 100 block of East South Street on Jan. 21. Two days later, investigators and the Indiana State Fire Marshal's office ruled the fire an arson.

Online court records show Corbin Lee Messer, 18, of Arcadia is charged with arson, institutional criminal mischief and criminal mischief.

He and the juvenile suspect are accused of causing more than $50,000 in damages to the home.

Arcadia police found a home ablaze while responding about 8 p.m. the night of the fire. A door on the home's west side was insecure,
and at some point the evening before, someone had knocked out an upstairs window, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Messer had set the fire to a couch because he was upset over a breakup, the affidavit alleges.

In an interview with police, Messer admitted to setting the couch on fire using cardboard and wood and said another person started a fire on the home's second floor.

Jail records show Messer was arrested Thursday and is in jail on a $150,000 bond. The Jackson Township Fire Department says the juvenile is currently detained at the Hamilton County Juvenile Services Center.

The department says numerous tips helped with the investigation.

If you saw anything suspicious or have any information regarding this fire, please contact Jackson Township Fire Department at 317-984-3443 or email the details to fireinvestigations@jacksonfire.us. If you would like to remain anonymous, please call the Indiana Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477(TIPS).