What could have been a dangerous blaze at a Youngstown Dollar General turned into a smoky flop on Tuesday evening, after a man tried and failed to set a fire inside the store at 1370 Belmont Avenue, according to police.
Investigators say store surveillance shows the suspect lighting a pack of shirts, then tucking the burning bundle into a box of brooms in what appeared to be an effort to spark a larger fire. He then walked out of the store with another customer and left in a dark blue Jeep Compass. No injuries were reported, and the flames never turned into a full-scale fire.
Security Cameras Capture Hoodie-Wearing Suspect
According to WFMJ, the store manager handed over the security video to officers. The footage shows a white man in a red Ohio State hoodie and gray shorts pulling a pack of shirts from his pocket and igniting it with what appears to be a lighter.
In the video, the suspect can be seen hunching over the clothing as the fabric catches fire, then carrying the burning pack toward the cleaning-supplies aisle. Police say the flames are clearly visible, but the attempt to turn that spark into something bigger does not succeed.
Burning Shirts Stashed in Broom Box Before Suspect Flees
As reported by WKBN, the man places the burning shirts into a box of brooms, apparently trying to use the merchandise as fuel for a larger fire. The effort fails, and no significant damage is reported.
The suspect then leaves the store with another man, and the two drive off in a 2022 dark blue Jeep Compass headed west on Fairmont Avenue. Officers later recovered the charred pack of shirts from inside the store as evidence.
Police Still Working to Identify Suspect
FOX 8 reports that Youngstown police are continuing to review the footage and follow up on leads. As of the latest update, investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, and the department has not released any information on a possible motive or potential charges.
For now, the case stands as an arson attempt that fizzled out, leaving behind a charred pack of shirts, some singed brooms and a growing stack of video evidence for detectives to sift through.
