Batavia Township man indicted for arson
On Aug. 20, a Clermont County grand jury indicted Dustin A. Bridewell, 27, of Batavia Township on the following charges:
• Two counts of arson, both felonies of the fourth degree
• One count of breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth degree.
On Aug. 2, at approximately 7:19 a.m., the Clermont County Communications Center received a 911 call for a residential structure fire in the 100 block of Savannah Circle in the Greenbriar Mobile Home Park, Batavia Township. The caller reported that the former resident had recently been evicted, and it was believed no one was inside.
Deputies with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene alongside both the Central Joint Fire and EMS District and Williamsburg Fire and EMS. Upon arrival, deputies and fire personnel observed smoke and flames coming from the residence. Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire within minutes. Once the fire was extinguished, it was confirmed no one was inside the residence. Detectives with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office and investigators with the Clermont County Fire Investigation Team responded and assisted with the investigation.
Following an examination of the scene, which included the collection and analysis of available evidence, as well as interviews with witnesses, fire investigators classified the fire as an arson. After review of surrounding surveillance, detectives were able to identify a male allegedly leaving the area minutes before smoke and flames were observed coming from the residence. Further investigation identified as a suspect Dustin Bridewell, the former resident of the home.
Clermont County detectives coordinated efforts with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office in Kentucky to locate Bridewell on an unrelated warrant previously issued in Clermont County. Bridewell was located by Boone County Sheriff’s Office and was taken into custody without incident. Bridewell was transported to the Boone County Jail, where he remained pending extradition to Clermont County.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Bridewell was extradited to Clermont County and booked into the Clermont County Jail on his active warrants. Following his return, Bridewell declined to provide a statement to Sheriff’s Office detectives.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.