Teen Charged with Arson

Dakota Roush
Dakota Roush

A  house fire in Knox on Thursday turned out to be the act of arson and a suspect is in custody.

Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Fire Department were called to a house fire in the 2000 East block of County Road 200 South at 8 p.m. on July 24. When they arrived, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

Witnesses reportedly observed a man run from the scene prior to the arrival of fire personnel, according to a Starke County Sheriff’s Department news release.

Officers took 18-year-old Dakota Roush, of Knox, into custody on a charge of illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. Detectives conducted a more in-depth investigation and Roush was additionally charged with arson as a Level 4 felony.

He remains incarcerated in the Starke County Jail. Bond is set at $100,000 surety.