Huntington police officers responded at about 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to reports of smoke coming from a vacant commercial building at 238 Polk Street, according to a Huntington Police Department media release issued Wednesday.
Officers worked with the Huntington City Fire Department and the city street department to set a safety perimeter around the building. Several homes next to the building were evacuated out of an abundance of caution, and residents were allowed to return once the fire was contained and the area was deemed safe. Local TV reporting identified the building as the former Schacht Rubber Manufacturing site.
Investigators worked through the night with the Huntington City Fire Marshal and the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office, developing leads with help from members of the public. A juvenile suspect has been taken into custody, and police say no identifying information will be released because of the suspect's age. The suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public. Assisting agencies included the Roanoke, Southwest Allen County and Huntington Township volunteer fire departments, Parkview Huntington EMS, the Huntington County Sheriff's Department, county dispatch and the county emergency management agency.
