Search on for arsonist

NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Sheriff's Office is investigating a fire at Rebecca's Gold Club on Aug. 21 that has been found to be the work of an arsonist.

The fire began at approximately 4 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 21, and a passing motorist reported smoke coming from the club, located on state Route 2 between New Cumberland and Weirton, to the Hancock County 911 Center. The Oakland, New Cumberland, and New Manchester volunteer fire departments responded to the call and were able to confine the fire to the ceiling and to one wall, though items such as chairs, bar stools, and video lottery machines caught fire because of the heat. About half the building suffered fire damage, though the fire did not burn through to the exterior, since the outside of the club is brick.

According to the sheriff's office, there were indications there had been forced entry into the club. After the fire was contained, sheriff's deputies discovered that the video lottery machines had been broken into and that the suspected point of origin of the fire was near the machines.

A video recorder was recovered by deputies from the club's office, which suffered only heat and smoke damage, and the evidence was taken to the Allegheny County Bureau of Police Department's Audio/Video Forensic Unit, where video was retrieved of the alleged arsonist breaking into the video lottery machines.

The sheriff's office is asking for the assistance of anyone who may have been driving by the club at the time the fire began and saw something or anyone who may know the identity of the individual in the recovered video. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Hancock County Sheriff's Office detective at (304) 564-3311 or the sheriff's office main line at (304) 564-4100.

(Contact Scott at escott@reviewonline.com)