A 19-year-old man is in custody awaiting formal charges for arson and burglary after an early morning fire Friday at an abandoned house behind the old Johnson Inn property in Porter, according to police.
At 1:04 a.m. Friday, Porter Police and Fire responded to a report of an abandoned structure on fire at Wabash Avenue and Johnson Beach Road, according to a joint news release from both departments shared on Facebook.
Firefighters discovered that a small, abandoned house located behind the old Johnson Inn was engulfed in flames. Porter Fire struck a first alarm and initiated a defensive attack. Some neighboring homes were evacuated out of an abundance of caution due to the heavy fire conditions that were compounded by a strong wind off Lake Michigan.
Officers arrived on the scene and located a local 19-year-old male standing in front of the burning building. The male was detained for further investigation and transported to the Porter Police Department.
An interview was conducted and probable cause was developed to place the man under arrest on suspicion of arson and burglary. The suspect was lodged at the Porter County Jail and formal charges with the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office are pending.
His name will be released after the charges are signed.
Porter Fire requested the assistance of the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office at the scene. While a suspect is in custody, this is an ongoing investigation. No injuries were reported.
Assisting agencies include Beverly Shores Police; Burns Harbor Police; Chesterton Fire; Portage Fire; Northwest Health EMS; and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.