Man, 40, charged with arson and domestic violence after Oxford Township fire

NEWCOMERSTOWN — A 40-year-old man was jailed on arson and domestic violence charges after allegedly pouring gasoline on his wife and lighting a shed on fire Tuesday afternoon, according to the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office.

The fire was reported at 4:04 p.m. at 15201 Dunlap Creek Road SW in Oxford Township.

Deputy Ray Cottrell arrived to find a shed fully engulfed in flames and the Newcomerstown Fire Department assessing the fire.

The fire department was able to knock down the fire in about 10 minutes, preventing it from spreading to the back porch of a mobile home, according to firefighter Heather Stein-Wells. She said the shed and a small barn were destroyed.

The victim said a physical altercation between her and her husband escalated to the point at which he poured gasoline on her and lit the shed on fire.

A 12-year-old boy corroborated her account. He told the deputy that his father hit the victim in the back of the head.

The suspect was also being held on a warrant from the Southern District of Tuscarawas County Court at Uhrichsville on a misdemeanor theft charge filed by the sheriff's department.

No injury was reported as a result of the fire.

Firefighters left the scene around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Newcomerstown firefighters were assisted by others from West Lafayette and the Delaware Valley Joint Fire District in Port Washington.