MILTON TOWNSHIP, OH—The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a house explosion early Wednesday morning as a possible hate crime after racial slurs were found painted on the garage and a neighboring garage.
The Sterling Fire District responded at 12:36 a.m. to 6743 Spruce St. and found the house, which was unoccupied at the time of the explosion, fully involved and knocked to the ground, Fire Chief Josh Glessner said.
No injuries were reported.
No one was home at the time. There had been an electrical fire at the home on July 3 and the house was being repaired, authorities said.
The power and gas had been shut off, leading firefighters to suspect arson.
The couple who live at the home are black and white.
"Right now, we're investigating this as a hate crime," sheriff's Capt. Doug Hunter said.
He declined to discuss potential suspects.
The FBI and state fire marshal investigators have been called in for the investigation.
A neighbor called 9-1-1 to report the explosion.
"Apparently the explosion was so great that it shook many of the homes in the area," Hunter said.
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