Police in Middletown tell Local 12 the gas leak that forced the evacuation of two blocks of residents in Middletown this morning is suspicious.
The leak is in the 2200 block of Queen Avenue. Firefighters ordered homeowners to evacuate one block in each direction.
Police now say that the home which was the source of the gas leak was unoccupied when they entered it. The levels of gas were high and there were candles left burning in the home.
Firefighters pulled out once they realized the candles were there. Once the home was ventilated, they went back in and extinguished the candles. Police are now interviewing the homeowners. Meanwhile, evacuated residents were allowed to go back home around 10 a.m.
The Middletown fire department tells Local 12 the home at this address suffered damage in a fire several years ago although they could not pinpoint the exact date. They also said they made a run to the home recently for a call of a fire involving a vintage car.
Ohio records indicate a registered sex offender lives at the address. 49 year old Ivan English is a tier-three sex offender, having spent time in jail for a rape that involved an adult female. It is important to point out that police have not filed charges against English in connection with today's events.
This is the second time in two days that an evacuation has been ordered in Middletown because of a gas leak. On Wednesday, about 30 homes were evacuated when a plumber hit a gas line in the 3200 block of Goldman Avenue. Residents were allowed back to their homes after about three hours.
Local 12 has a crew on the way to Middletown and we'll post new information here as soon as we receive it.
