Police and fire received a call Wednesday evening from an individual living at the residence at roughly 9:52 p.m. stating as they returned home, they witnessed someone leaving the property as well as seeing smoke coming from the home.
Firefighters arrived on the scene to find the home heavily involved. Nearly 20 firefighters from the city of Monroe and Unionville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire.
The fire is under investigation as suspicious and a joint investigation with Monroe Fire Marshals and Monroe Police Detectives is ongoing.
The home was valued at roughly $600,000 and is being considered a total loss.
There were no injuries reported.
Please see the following narrative from the police report on the incident:
On 05/05/2010, I responded to 1000 Bentwood Lane. in reference to a breaking and entering. While en route, CCOM advised that the call was coming in as a structure fire. Upon my arrival, I was able to see flames coming from the residence. I spoke with Mr. Andrew Church who stated that he was leasing the home from Glen Cuthbertson. Mr. Church advised that he and his wife, Ms. Carrie Church, were pulling up when he saw two individuals run from behind his house to the wood line towards the left side of house.
Mr. Church advised that the suspect had a white bag and dropped it at the wood line. Mr. Church said he lost sight of the suspects, walked to his home, opened the door and he could smell gasoline. Mr. Church stated that he then saw flames coming from his residence. I spoke with Ms. Church who stated that as she was pulling onto Bentwood Lane, her husband, Mr. Church, called her. Mr. Church said that she needed to call the police because two subjects just left their residence. Ms. Church stated that as she was pulling down the driveway, she could see smoke coming from the house and she told the dispatcher that they needed the fire department. I spoke with a neighbor of Mr. Church`s who stated that around the time the fire started that he heard what seemed to be a four wheeler from the cul de sac located in front of his residence. The neighbor could not see the vehicle but he was certain it was a four wheeler. The property that was in the white bag was seized and will be entered into evidence. This incident is still under investigation by the Monroe Police and Monroe Fire Departments.
2010 MonroeScoop.com
