West Virginians Hope Arrest of Suspect Ends String of Recent Arsons

A man has been charged with setting two fires in Hinton, and residents hope the 19-month string of arsons in their town has ended.

Twenty-nine-year-old Joseph Michael Brown is being held at Southern Regional Jail on $200,000 bond. He was arrested Tuesday and faces two charges of first-degree arson.

It could not be immediately determined Wednesday if Brown has a lawyer.

Hinton Mayor Joe Blankenship says he’ll meet with State Police for more information. Blankenship hopes this means the end of the arsons.

Two other suspects were arrested in May, but another fire was set while they were in jail.

Since December 2007, there have been more than 20 suspicious fires in the Summers