Man charged with arson at brother’s restaurant
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MONTPELIER — Authorities arrested and booked a 38-year-old man with simple arson Thursday in connection with a deliberately set fire at a restaurant last July, State Fire Marshal H. Butch Browning reported.
Ronald “Ronnie” Joseph Tallo, of 19089 Notriano Road in Hammond, is accused of setting fire to Russell’s Diner located at 33619 La. 16 in St. Helena Parish between Montpelier and Amite, according to a news release the Fire Marshal’s Office issued.
The destroyed restaurant was owned by Ryan Tallo, who is the brother of the arrested man, officials reported.
No other arrests are expected in the case, said Donald Carter, arson superintendent for the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Several areas in the restaurant were doused with a flammable liquid prior to the fire, he said.
The fire was set shortly before 1 a.m. on July 23 while the restaurant was closed, Carter said.
Nobody was injured fighting the fire, he said.
However, fire officials said they began investigating Ronald Tallo after learning that he sought medical attention for burns shortly after the fire, according to the release.
The State Fire Marshal investigated the fire at the request of the Hillsdale Volunteer Fire Department.
Ronald Tallo was arrested without incident, booked into the St. Helena Parish Jail and cooperated with investigators after being questioned about the fire, the release stated.
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