Teen Arrested for Arson After Confronting Police With a Knife

A teenager has been charged with arson in connection with several fires that happened in Washington County last month.

The State Fire Marshal's Office says the fires happened in Baileyville on August 25th. Two vacant buildings on Mill Street owned by Woodland Pulp and Paper Company were heavily damaged by fire last week. They were a storage building and a two-bay garage. That same night, a nearby resident reported that their mail had been stolen and set on fire alongside a road.

Last Friday, four Fire Marshal Investigators and Indian Township Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in that town. When officers approached the youth on his bicycle, he ran off into the woods and threatened them with a knife. But when investigators drew their guns, he dropped it. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle with the arresting officers.

Officials are not releasing the boy's name until his first day in court, but say that he is charged with criminal threatening, arson, and aggravated criminal mischief. He's due to make his first court appearance next week.