3 Turn Selves In For Alleged Union Twp. Arsons
UNION TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – There's a break in the case involving three fires in Union Township, Lawrence County.
Three men turned themselves into police, but one told KDKA he didn't do it.
"We are investigating three arsons in the township," said Union Township Police Officer Ryan King. "Three suspects we have that are coming in today that we are making an arrest on."
Police say Ryan Nixon and Lloyd Lewis turned themselves into police Thursday afternoon.
A third suspect, Alexander Whetsel, turned himself in a short time after the other two. H wanted to talk about the accusations.
"This was the biggest mistake of my life, biggest mistake of my life," he said. "I should have not been hanging out with them. This would've never happened. If I could go back in time I would change it all. I'm really sorry."
But he says he didn't start the fires.
"No, I didn't," said Whetsel.
Earlier this month, the fire marshal was investigating several fires that consumed several empty homes and a recently vacant business.
Two homes on Bluff Street were set on fire in two days.
Police say Nixon and Lewis were seen each time the fires were lit, saying they went back to watch. But Whetsel was never seen at the scene of the fires.
Two vacant houses on Bluff Street also burned and a building vacant for more than two decades in New Castle went up in flames. Years ago, it was a grocery store.
The two say Whetsel helped them, but he tells it differently.
"The younger kid (Nixon) was the one setting fires," said Whetsel. He added, "Thomas Lewis, he only set the one house on fire."
According to the criminal complaint, Nixon is charged with setting one of the houses on fire twice.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter