Cleveland man charged with burning house under construction

Published 4:05 pm Thursday, September 6, 2018

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man has been charged with burning a home under construction, according to Rowan County authorities.

Fire officials determined that two recent fires on the same day and within a few miles of each other were intentionally set.

Brandon Daniels, 22, of Brown Farm Road, was charged with the felony offense Wednesday. He was been released from the Iredell County Detention Center under a $1,000 secured bond.

On Aug. 8, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division was called to assist the Rowan County Fire Marshal’s Office to investigate a fire at 567 Phifer Road in Cleveland.

A second fire was reported that day at 193 Phifer Lane in Statesville. Both were reported about 4 a.m.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation of the Statesville fire and determined that both fires were intentionally set.

Rowan and Iredell County detectives conducted a joint investigation that identified Daniels as a suspect.

The Rowan County home that burned was under construction, and the owner was set to move into it a few weeks later. No one was at the home at the time of the fire, and the house did not have power, fire investigators have said.

Officials say the investigation is continuing.