Sheriff’s Office Investigating Early Morning Residential Arson

On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at approximately 5:14am the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, McCutchanville Fire Department and German Township Fire Department responded to a report of a residential structure fire at 1845 Belmar Lane in Westbrook Mobile Home Court.

The first sheriff’s deputy on scene observed flames burning through the roof of the mobile home as well as smoke billowing from several windows. The sheriff’s deputy began awakening neighbors to warn them of the hazard. The sheriff’s deputy also made contact with the resident of the burning mobile home, Mr. David Richard Dewig. The sheriff’s deputy noted that Mr. Dewig was behaving erratically, appearing intoxicated and speaking incomprehensibly. An ambulance from AMR arrived and subsequently transported Mr. Dewig to the hospital for examination.

The Sheriff’s Office interviewed one of Mr. Dewig’s neighbors, who reported having been awoken when Mr. Dewig knocked on his door. Mr. Dewig reportedly told his neighbor that he started the fire inside his home by intentionally lighting some papers on fire. Mr. Dewig’s neighbor then called 911 to report the fire. The McCutchanville and German Township Fire Departments were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to any adjacent mobile homes or structures.

Mr. Dewig was later flown from Deaconess Hospital to Indianapolis for treatment related to smoke inhalation. The Sheriff Office is investigating the fire as arson of a dwelling.

Pictured above: Firefighters inspect the mobile home after extigushing the fire.

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