Man arrested for arson after attempting to set fire to West Side business

CINCINNATI — A man was arrested and now faces arson charges after allegedly attempting to set fire to a family-owned business on Cincinnati’s west side, according to the Cincinnati Fire Department.

According to CFD, 36-year-old Robert Justice is now charged with arson of private property, a fourth-degree felony.

According to fire officials, Justice attempted to set fire to Bob’s Drive Thru and Sunoco on West 8th Street in West Price Hill with a flammable liquid shortly after midnight on June 10. He then used an open flame to set fire to the store’s rear garage door, CFD officials said. The store was closed at the time.

The fire extinguished itself, but the damage it caused was not discovered until later that morning when the store reopened, CFD said. Firefighters and police were called to investigate.

The store suffered smoke and fire damage that will cost more than $1,000 to repair, fire officials said.

CFD did not disclose how officers determined Justice was the one who set the fire, but they said his arrest came within hours of the fire being set.