Salem man arrest for arson

SALEM—James Cleere, 18 of Salem, was taken into custody Tuesday, Nov. 8 on charges of Arson in the Second Degree, a class C felony, for a fire set last Friday.

Around 2:30 a.m. Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 notification of a barn on fire on 335th street in Salem.

Salem Fire and other nearby fire departments responded and found fire had spread to nearby fields.

The origin of the fire, a barn, was completely destroyed along with the vehicle parked inside.

Salem Fire was dispatched to the scene a second time around 7:45 a.m. when the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a rekindling.

Later that same morning, Salem Fire Chief Steve Nichting contacted Henry County Sheriff’s Office stating that he believed the fire was suspicious due to a witness observing someone riding a bicycle in the area around the time of the fire.

According to court filings, during a non-custodial interview, Cleere admitted to not only riding his bike around the area at the time of fire, but also being inside of the barn.

Cleere stated that he put hay inside his pants to keep warm and a lighter in his pocket accidentally ignited.

Documents state that Cleere then removed the accidentally ignited lighter form his pocket, threw it, and the barn subsequently caught on fire.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com