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Two North Union residents face arson charges following eviction

By Josh Krysakheraldstandard.Com 2 min read

?State police said two North Union Township residents are facing arson charges after they allegedly attempted to burn down a North Union apartment they had been evicted from earlier this month.

State police Trooper Russell Freed said Randy Keith Dennis Jr., 20, and Jessica Dawn Myers, 21, will each face two felony counts of arson following the fire at 447 Coolspring St.

Freed said the incident occurred July 3 when Dennis and Myers arrived at the residence owned by Michael Susa.

Freed said the couple had rented a room inside the home from Susa but had been evicted prior to July 3.

Freed said when the couple arrived, they asked Susa if they could retrieve some of their clothing from the room.

After allowing Dennis and Myers to enter the room, Susa busied himself in other areas of the house, Freed said.

He noted that when they left the house a short time later they were running.

Susa went upstairs and found two piles of clothing on fire, Freed said.

He initially tried to smother the flames with a coat but was unsuccessful and was overcome by smoke, Freed said.

Susa then called 911 and volunteer firefighters from North Union Township responded to the residence and extinguished the blaze.

Susa was taken to Uniontown Hospital for treatment.

Carpeting in the room, as well as one wall, sustained fire damage.

Freed determined that the fire had been intentionally set.

Both Dennis and Myers were placed in Fayette County Prison on $10,000 straight cash bond following their arraignments.

Preliminary hearings will are tentatively set for the couple July 20.

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