A local boy accused of making dozens of prank 911 calls is now accused of setting fire to his neighbor's home.
The 12-year-old boy is accused of setting fire to his neighbor's home on South Kellner Road on Monday night, NBC 4 's Erin Tate reported.
When firefighters arrived at the home they found matches, a rag soaked in lighter fluid and a boy they had just charged earlier with making prank 911 calls in the neighborhood, officials said.
For more than a month, investigators worked to track down the person who called 911 reporting a fire at a home on South James Road. Investigators determined that the alleged caller was using a computer to disguise his voice.
"I don't think he understood the danger he was putting people in, firefighters and citizens," said Columbus Division of Fire Chief Doug Smith.
Fire officials said the boy admitted to making the false alarm calls and to setting the fire.
The homeowner, Bob Santee, said he was shocked that the polite middle school student would try to harm his family.
"It could've been a lot worse. We're lucky and happy it was isolated to a window, instead of the whole house," Santee said.
The boy will remain at the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center pending a psychological evaluation.
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Previous Story:
- May 1, 2006: Boy, 12, Accused Of Making Prank 911 Calls
- April 7, 2006: Officials Frustrated Over Frequency Of False 911 Calls
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