Arson suspect caught at WalMart in connection to Henrico car wash fire
Dec 20, 2024
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Gloucester County man has been charged with arson in connection to the fire at a car wash on East Parham Road Monday morning.
Thirty-two-year-old Ryan Housman of Gloucester County has been charged by Henrico Fire Marshals with one count of felony arson for his alleged involvement in a fire at a car wash located on East Parham Road.
According to the fire department, Housman was already facing multiple charges from Henrico police and is currently being held in jail without a bond -- with the newly added charge from the Fire Marshals.
(Courtesy of Henrico Fire)
The fire occurred at 10:06 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, and Henrico Fire responded to the 800 block of East Parham Road for a report of a business structure fire. When fire crews arrived, they found smoke coming from and flames coming from the roof of Splash In Car Wash.
Fire crews were able to get the fire under control by 10:53 a.m., which resulted in the Fire Marshal's Office beginning an immediate investigation for the cause of the fire.
“Credit to the Splash In and neighboring businesses for providing video to Henrico Fire so quickly after the fire,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Justin Finan. “Footage shows an individual entering the bay of the car wash at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Monday. The individual — who we identified as Mr. Housman — is seen in the bay of the car wash using a lighter to set fire to large brushes.”
Finan confirmed that the suspect spent close to an hour at the car wash lighting small fires and trying to pat them out -- until one of the fires spread out of control.
Fire at Splash In Car Wash (Courtesy of Henrico Fire) Fire at Splash In Car Wash (Courtesy of Henrico Fire) Fire at Splash In Car Wash (Courtesy of Henrico Fire)
“The last fire grew too large to be swatted out by hand and ultimately engulfed the car wash, eventually burning through the roof,” Finan said.
Shortly after the fire blazed, Housman is caught on security video going into a Wal-Mart located a few hundred yards away from the car wash. He was detained in Wal-Mart by the employees for the suspicion of shoplifting -- leading to Henrico Police arresting him for larceny, possession of illegal drugs and other charges.
“The loss prevention officers and Henrico Police did great work,” Finan said. “Their investigation, while unrelated to the fire, revealed that Mr. Housman had several lighters in his backpack and burns on his sweatshirt, undershirt, and gloves. Those factors, combined with video evidence, helped the Fire Marshal’s Office conclude its investigation and bring charges against Mr. Housman.”
If anyone has any information about this incident, count the Henrico Fire Marshal's Office at 804-501-4900.