Suspect in multiple fires facing 1 arson charge

11/9/2006

A South Toledo man is being investigated for several arson fires in his neighborhood after he was charged with setting a fire last month at a nearby vacant house.

Thomas Balduf, 48, of 1019 Harding St. was being held in the Lucas County jail last night in lieu of a $50,000 bond on one count of arson. He is accused of setting a fire on Oct. 29 inside a house across the street at 1018 Harding.

He is a suspect in other arson blazes in the area, some of which date to 2002, fire Investigator Michael Smith said.

Investigators didn t have enough evidence to charge him after the other fires, but this time they have enough including eyewitnesses to charge him in the recent blaze, Mr. Smith said.