News
Logan Woman in Custody After Hocking Co. Courthouse Fire, Pursuit
By: Susan Tebben
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LOGAN — A Logan woman is charged with aggravated arson after allegedly setting a fire that damaged the Hocking County Courthouse, and allegedly wielding a knife at law enforcement.
Photo provided by the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office
The incident also caused the closure of the courthouse and surrounding schools as a precaution on Tuesday, according to a release by the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.
Miranda L. McCormick, 31, was charged with aggravated arson after being apprehended early Tuesday morning at an apartment on East Main Street.
Logan police first responded to a call of a female suspect throwing bricks through the windows of residences near the 300 block of West Main Street at about 12:30 a.m. The female, later identified as McCormick, was located near the rear parking lot of the courthouse.
When officers saw smoke and fire coming from a window of the courthouse, they reported the fire to Hocking County 911 and requested response from the Logan Fire Department and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.
“Once confronted, the female suspect pulled a large knife on officers and began running from the area, a brief foot pursuit was initiated which led to a nearby apartment on East Main Street,” the release stated. “The female suspect barricaded herself inside and attempted to jump out of the second story window. While inside, the female suspect started a small fire inside the apartment and officers forced entry to extinguish the fire and apprehend the female.”
Law enforcement said they saw “what appeared to be a homemade incendiary or explosive device” in the apartment, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office and Columbus Division of Police Bomb Squad responded. The bomb squad confirmed the device to be an “improvised explosive,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Authorities estimate the damage to the courthouse at about $30,000.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but the sheriff’s office release stated additional charges are expected.
Central Elementary School and St. John’s Catholic School were both closed for the day “due to traffic considerations of downtown Logan,” according to the release.
Logan Hocking Schools initiated Lockout protocols on all schools on Tuesday.
“It is important to note, that there have not been any threats to any of the schools, but these steps are being taken as a precautionary measure only,” the release stated.