COLUMBUS – Authorities say a young Frankinton man long suspected of setting a dumpster fire that spread and badly damaged a Buddhist temple has been arrested after a lengthy investigation.
The January 31 blaze began with one of several trash-bin fires that were started in the area. This one happened to be next to the building and quickly spread to the Karma Thegsum Chöling Buddhist Temple, causing about $455,000 in damage to the building at 231 Grubb Street, said fire division spokesman Battalion Chief Steve Martin.
Ronnie Lee Carroll II, 19, will be charged with two felony counts of arson and martin says more charges are anticipated.
Authorities say businesses and residents in the area shared surveillance video to help multiple law enforcement agencies assistance from multiple agencies, including the Columbus Division of Police and the Aviation Section of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, with the investigation of the fire at the temple for followers of Tibetan Buddhism.
Martin says investigators long suspects Carroll of his role in the blaze but did not have enough evidence to seek an arrest warrant.