What began as a possible overdose Monday night turned into an arson investigation when the patient told an ambulance crew he set his girlfriend’s apartment on fire.
Glenn D. Johnston, 50, of Winchester, is now facing one count of first-degree arson and eight counts of first-degree wanton endangerment after he allegedly set the bed on fire at 608 Westwood Drive.
The incident began when an ambulance was called to College Park around 11:35 p.m. Monday.
“We responded along with EMS,” Winchester Police Capt. James Hall said, “to the call on College Street where he attempted to harm himself.”
During the trip to the hospital, Hall said Johnston “divulged” to paramedics that he had started a fire before he left his girlfriend’s apartment. Hall said they had been in an argument about 30 minutes earlier and Johnston said he walked to College Park.
Firefighters and police officers converged on 608 Westwood Drive, smelled smoke and found a fire in the bedroom. No one was home, Winchester Fire-EMS Maj. Greg Beam said. The fire was contained to the bedroom, but the rest of the apartment received heat and smoke damage, he said. A neighboring apartment received smoke damage and a first-floor apartment received some water damage, he said.
Hall said Johnston admitted to setting the fire.
“He gave a statement that he had an argument with her and he set the apartment on fire,” Hall said. “He said it was a small fire on the mattress and he walked to College Park.”
The fire caused no structural damage, Beam said, and one family was displaced for the night. Firefighters cleared the scene around 1:06 a.m. today.
Johnston was lodged in the Clark County Detention Center.
Contact Fred Petke at fpetke@winchestersun.com.
