Two arrested for Sphar fire

Published 12:26 pm Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Police arrested two people Saturday night after they allegedly entered the Sphar building and set a small fire inside.

The fire was reported shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday when people noticed smoke coming from the former seed warehouse at 127 N. Main St.

According to court documents, firefighters saw two people inside the crumbling building when they arrived on the scene. When the two people refused to come out or respond to verbal commands, officers and firefighters went inside the building to find them. Both were found on the second floor of the building, where there was a small fire.

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Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney said the fire caused no significant damage and no one was injured.

The two suspects, 39-year-old Jason Alan Crosswhite of 2110 Dover Court, and 36-year-old Amber Osborne of 101 N. Highland St., were arrested and charged with second-degree criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer) and four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Crosswhite was also charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon after officers found a “lethal cutting instrument” hidden in his bandanna.

Crosswhite told police they entered the building through an unlocked door and started the fire with paper and cards. Osborne said they started the fire to stay warm.

The building is in poor repair and has been condemned, while city officials try to find a way to save part of the 137-year-old building. Original plans to restore the entire building failed when bids came in higher than available funds. The city is now preparing a scaled-down project to save and restore about one-third of the building while the rest will be demolished.

Both are being held on a $10,000 cash bond in the Clark County Detention Center.

The Clark County Fire Department also responded to the scene, and a police officer was stationed outside the building for the remainder of the night.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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