A man who ran from the scene of an apartment fire on Casemer has been charged with intentionally setting that fire, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect, Joseph Paul Tubbs, 29, was taken into custody a few hours after the fire, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. on July 13.
The Orion Township Fire Department had the fire under control in about 20 minutes, but the apartment was heavily damaged. Other apartments in the same building received smoke and water damage.
A fire investigator from the OCSD was requested at the scene, after the fire department called the fire ‘suspicious.? No injuries were reported.
According to OCSD Detective Charles Farley, a fire/arson investigator, prior to the fire department’s arrival, a groundskeeper/night security person said he saw Tubbs running from the apartment building towards Casemer.
According to the OCSD, the groundskeeper said he followed Tubbs, but lost him. When he returned to his apartment, located below Tubbs?, the groundskeeper said he smelled smoke.
The groundskeeper investigated and called 911.
He was able to provide the OCSD with a physical description of Tubbs, and Tubbs was located at M-24 and Indianwood Road, where he was taken into custody.
According to the OCSD, Tubbs said he was in an argument with his roommate over rent that was three months past due.
The OCSD said it appears the fire was set as a result of the argument with the roommate, who was the lease holder.
Tubbs was transported to the Oakland County Jail. He was arraigned for on charges of arson on July 14.