This home in the 1800 block of Main Street in Franklin was set fire by suspected arson Tuesday.
Photo provided by Franklin Fire
A Greenwood man was arrested on arson and burglary charges after police say he set fire to a Franklin home Tuesday.
Myjewel E. Gills, 31, was arrested on felony charges of arson and burglary, along with a misdemeanor charge of interfering with public safety.
Around noon Tuesday, Franklin Police were called to the 0 block of Schoolhouse Road for a report of a suspicious male in a home’s backyard. The caller advised a male was “acting strangely,” saying he had set his home on fire. The 911 caller then saw smoke coming from a neighbor’s property, according to a Franklin Police Department report.
Officers were able to locate Gills — who is not the homeowner — and some neighbors in the vicinity of the active house fire on the 1800 block of N. Main St. They questioned Gills, who reportedly said his son was inside the home, the report says.
Officers and firefighters searched the home but found no one inside, the report shows. The fire was quickly put out and no one was injured, said Franklin Police Capt. Justin Stall.
On the scene, Gills told officers “It’s my fault,” and “I’m guilty of all these things, I did it all,” the police report says.
Police don’t know of any apparent connection between Gills and the actual homeowners, Stall said. A family member told police that he was in the area because his dog had gotten away after he was involved in a car crash about an hour earlier. The dog was later found in the area and turned over to Johnson County Animal Control, the report shows.
Preliminarily, the investigation appears to show the fire was started intentionally in a back bedroom of the house. Gills’ keys were found on a table in the bedroom next to where officials believe the fire was started, according to the report.
A bed was partially burned during the fire and heavy smoke damage was observed as well, the report says.
First responders also found evidence of damage to an open window screen at the rear of the home. The front door and screen door were also unlocked, the report says.
An estimate of the damage is pending. The Franklin Fire Department’s arson investigation is ongoing.
Gill was booked into the Johnson County jail at 1:04 p.m. Tuesday. He remains at the jail, pending bail, according to jail records.
Formal charges will be decided by the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
Daily Journal news editor Noah Crenshaw contributed to this report.
