Cops: Arsonists plotted insurance fraud
HOBART | Police sought arson charges from the Lake County prosecutors against two men they say destroyed a home Friday as part of a botched insurance fraud scheme.
Michael Mance, of Hobart, and Quentin Clause, of Lake Station, both in their early 20s, face charges of arson with intent to defraud and arson for hire, Hobart Detective Dave Evans said.
Mance, who owns the fire-ravaged home in the 3900 block of Howard Street, is being held in Lake County Jail, Evans said. Clause has not been arrested yet because he is in the burn unit at Loyola University Medical Center.
Evans said Mance hired Clause to set the fire in his house, promising him $1,000 of the insurance money. Police discovered the plot after the suspected arsonist set himself on fire, unintentionally tipping off police.
Emergency crews were called to the one-story house at 7:15 a.m. and found smoke and flames shooting out of the roof.
As investigators were reviewing the scene, Lake Station police overheard scanner traffic referencing the house fire. At the same time, Lake Station police were sending an ambulance to the 2700 block of Gibson Street for a call about a man caught on fire after setting a bonfire, Evans said.
Lake Station called Hobart, mentioning the coincidence.
Evans said Hobart officers went to the Gibson address to investigate, where Clause told police he burned himself setting a bonfire.
When officers found no bonfire burns in the backyard, they confronted Clause, who then confessed to the arson plot, Evans said. Mance eventually confessed after police interviewed him.
Evans said the state fire marshal believes when Clause doused the house with gasoline, he took the gas can out of the house, with the intent of going back in to light the fire.
But the house's hot water tanks turned on, hitting the pilot light and igniting an explosion, Evans said.
Hobart Assistant Fire Chief Steve Mast said the fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage, which includes the contents.
Clause was not the only injured party in the fire, Evans said. The fire also claimed Mance's 7-foot python.
BY CHRISTINE KRALY
ckraly@nwitimes.com
