This Story Below Appears as published in today’s edition (10/1/2019) of The Informer. Additional Details appear below.
A firefighter from the Manchester Fire Department is being accused of setting fire to at least 4 houses in the Manchester area.
Dakotah Mingee, 19 of Maysville, was charged with aggravated arson. Mingee has been with the fire department since January of 2016 and was a 2018 graduate of Manchester High School.
According to sources, Mingee is accused of setting fire to four structures in Manchester. Mingee turned himself in to authorities early Sunday morning.
Sources also reported that two other individuals are suspected to be apart of the criminal acts. Sources say one of the individuals has a history of vandalism in Manchester. In a recent village council meeting, Fire Chief Rick Bowman mentioned the fires and added that the State Fire Marshall is investigating the fires.
A representative of the Village of Manchester declined to comment and asked that all questions be directed to Fire Chief Rick Bowman. Bowman did not respond by the press deadline for this story.
Mingee will appear in Adams County County Court Monday to be arraigned. Aggravated arson is a felony of the second degree and is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison, with fines of up to $20,000.
Monday September 30, 2019
Mingee appearing in Adams County court on Monday Afternoon, entered a no-contest plea on one count of fourth-degree arson. Bond was set at $25,000. Mingee and his family posted 10% of the bond. Preliminary hearing is set for next Monday, October 7th at 10:30 am
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
The Informer received the following statement from the Fire Chief Rick Bowman of the Manchester Fire department. The Informer thanks Chief Bowman for his response.
During the early hours of September 29, 2019 Manchester Volunteer Firefighter Dakotah Mingee confessed to Adams County Sheriff Deputies that he had started several fires in the Manchester Fire district in the past several months.
Mr. Mingee was immediately terminated from the Manchester Fire Department.
For any additional information contact the Adams County Sheriff Department or the Ohio Fire Marshalls Office.
– James R. Bowman III, Chief
The Informer will update this story as details are made available.
