VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD) said they arrested a man on Thursday in connection to a fire on Wessex Lane last week.
On Feb. 2, VBFD responded to a house fire in the 1000 block of Wessex Lane in the Lake James section of the city. When firefighters got to the scene, they saw heavy fire coming from the home with a house next door receiving heat damage to its side.
The fire was marked under control in about 20 minutes, but three residents and two dogs were displaced due to the damage, according to the department.
VBFD said that after examining the fire scene, gathering statements from witnesses and collecting other evidence, investigators arrested Michael Deatherage and charged him with arson to an occupied structure on Thursday.
He is being held at Virginia Beach Correctional Center. His arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday.