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Athens Man Charged With Arson For Alleged Market On State Break-In
By: WOUB Staff reports
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An Athens man is in custody on charges of aggravated arson after a suspicious fire Tuesday morning at The Market on State.
Christopher Oiler, 22, is being held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, accused of aggravated arson, breaking and entering and safecracking, according to jail records.
Athens Police Department officers responded to 1002 E. State Street in reference to a suspicious fire, according to a report by the department. While police were investigating, the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on East State Street, which was exiting the parking lot of the Market on State “at a high rate of speed,” the police report stated.
Highway Patrol troopers charged Oiler with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, speeding and an improper turn.
Investigators seized a blow torch, clothing items, a chew bottle and liquid from the chew bottle as evidence. Police reported a “burned” ATM machine on their report.
Oiler appeared in Athens County Municipal Court on Tuesday, and bond was set at $20,000 for the arson charge, $5,000 for the safecracking charge and $2,500 for breaking and entering.