The Lima News
OTTAWA, Ohio — A lack of evidence led a prosecutor Tuesday to dismiss all charges against a former volunteer firefighter accused of starting three house fires.
Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers dismissed two counts of felony arson and one misdemeanor count of arson against William Laibe.
“In the interest of justice I felt it was not appropriate to proceed on the case based on the evidence before me,” Lammers said.
The charges accuse the 28-year-old Laibe of setting fires to three properties in Ottawa on July 25. Two were vacant houses owned by the village located at 315 N. Perry St., and 529 W. Third St., and another at 205 N. Perry St., was owned by Ray Diemer.
The fires occurred in the early morning hours. Ottawa firefighters were called to the scene of one fire and within hours were called to a second fire. Both fires were suspicious because power and utilities were turned off at the houses.
The houses were scheduled for demolition as part of a program associated with flood zones which the houses fell into.
Lammers said he was hoping to be able to introduce evidence that showed Laibe was at the scene of six other fires to bolster his case but it did not look like the judge would allow the evidence.
Lammers has the option of refiling charges if more evidence surfaces, he said.
Laibe was a former volunteer Ottawa firefighter and worked as a volunteer at two other agencies, Lammers said.
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