19 YEAR OLD INDICTED FOR SETTING THE FIRE THAT BURNED DOWN BUDDHIST TEMPLE AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY

Posted on 12/22/2016

Defendant: Ronnie Lee Carroll Jr.

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This man intentionally set several fires, where one in particular completely gutted a Buddhist temple.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Ronnie Lee Carroll Jr., age 19, for one count Aggravated Arson (F-1), five counts Arson (F-4), and one count Vandalism  (F-3), for a total of seven counts, in connection to several incidents that took place in Franklinton and Hilltop neighborhoods on December 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016.  It is alleged in the indictment that Carroll set a rash of destructive fires at numerous locations, including a detached garage and 1999 Ford Explorer at 570 Belvidere Avenue, a detached garage and 1998 Chevrolet Truck at 1564 Safford Avenue, and the fire that destroyed the Karma Thegsum Choling Temple located at 231 S. Grubb Street.  “Due to the collaborative efforts of the area residents and local businesses, investigators were able to identify Carroll as the suspect through shared surveillance videos,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien commended the Columbus Fire Department for both containing these fires and for their thorough investigation of these crime scenes.  Arraignment for Carroll will be set for next Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.