Bedfordtimesregister.com - Man charged with arson in connection with house fire

by Laura Freeman

Reporter

A Hudson resident was charged with aggravated arson April 6 in connection with a fire that destroyed a home on Connecticut Woods Drive the day before.

Michael S. Knudson, 39, was charged with aggravated arson, a second-degree felony, and arraigned before Judge Kim Hoover April 6, according to a spokesperson for the Clerk of Courts at Stow Municipal Court.

He told the court his address was 1280 Connecticut Woods Drive in Hudson, the scene of the fire.

The fire caused $400,000 in damage to the 3,944 square-foot Colonial home, according to Communications Manager Jody Roberts. Fire Chief Robert Carter said no one was injured by the fire.

"The property was foreclosed and sold at sheriff's sale," Roberts said. "We are in the process of determining if the former owner was still living in the house at the time."

According to Summit County Sheriff records, the property was purchased through sheriff sale Aug. 29, 2008, and was scheduled for eviction April 7.

"We are in process of trying to locate relatives and determine whether they were living at that address," Roberts said.

Knudson was arrested in Akron at the Haven of Rest shelter on East Market Street, Roberts said. She told the Hudson Hub-Times a police report was not available at press time.

Knudson did not enter a plea and a preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. April 15 before Hoover at the Stow Municipal Court, according to the clerk of courts office.

An attorney for Knudson was not listed in court records.

On April 5 a passer-by reported the fire at 12:15 p.m. and the Hudson Fire Department responded by 12:17 p.m. The home was heavily engulfed in flames, according to Roberts.

"This was a big house and a substantial loss and complicated by the lengthy driveway and extensive fire," Carter said.

The main part of the house was substantially destroyed by the fire, estimated at $400,000 for the 1986 structure and contents, Roberts said. She said the main structure was a total loss.

The state fire marshal, Hudson police and Hudson fire are investigating the fire.

Assistance was provided by Boston Heights, Macedonia, Twinsburg, Streetsboro and Valley fire departments. Additional help was provided at the scene by Hudson police, EMS, Hudson service department and Hudson public power.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150