Police arrest suspected serial arsonist

ANGOLA, Ind. (WANE)  A Steuben County man faces two felony arson charges after police say he admitted to setting several fires.

Officers took Andrew A. Smith, 21, of Angola, into custody Friday afternoon in connection with a barn fire that occurred in August of 2011 in rural Steuben Township. Sheriff’s detectives had been investigating several suspicious fires at various sites in the county between April and July of 2012. Through the course of the investigation, Smith was developed as a suspect in those cases.

After being interviewed by police, Smith admitted to setting several fires in the county. He was arrested on July 20 and charged with class D felony arson in connection with a fire at the Pigeon Lake Public Access Site that damaged a vehicle.

Detectives continued to gather more information on other suspicious fires that Smith had told them about, including the burning of the barn in rural Steuben Township in 2011. 

As a result of that investigation, detectives were able to obtain another arrest warrant for Smith charging him with class B felony arson. He was taken into custody without incident.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected to be filed. Smith's being held in the Steuben County Jail on $50,000 bond.