Franklin Police: Greenwood man broke into house and deliberately set it on fire

A Greenwood man was arrested on arson and burglary charges after setting fire to a Franklin home on Tuesday, according to police.

Myjewel E. Gills, 31, was arrested on charges of arson, burglary and endangering public safety.

Around noon Tuesday, Franklin police were called to the 0 block of Schoolhouse Road for a report of a suspicious man in the backyard of a home. The caller reported that the man was “acting strange” and had set his house on fire. According to a Franklin police report, the 911 caller then saw smoke coming from a neighbor’s property.

Officers managed to locate Gills – who is not the homeowner – and some neighbors near the active house fire in the 1800 block of N. Main St. They questioned Gills, who reportedly said his son was in the house, the report said.

Officers and firefighters searched the home but found no one inside, the report said. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured, Franklin police Capt. Justin Stall said.

At the scene, Gills told police officers, “It’s my fault” and “I’m guilty of all these things, I did everything,” the police report states.

Police were unaware of any apparent connection between Gills and the actual homeowners, Stall said. A family member told police he was in the area because his dog had escaped after being involved in a car accident about an hour earlier. The dog was later found in the area and turned over to Johnson County Animal Control, the report states.

Preliminary investigations indicate the fire was intentionally set in a rear bedroom of the home. Gill’s keys were found on a table in the bedroom next to where officials believe the fire was set, the report said.

A bed was partially burned in the fire and significant smoke damage was also found, the report said.

Rescue crews also found damage to an open screen at the rear of the home. The front door and screen door were also unlocked, the report said.

An estimate of the damage is pending. The Franklin Fire Department’s arson investigation is ongoing.

Gill was booked into the Johnson County Jail at 1:04 p.m. on Tuesday. According to jail records, he remains there awaiting release on bail.

The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office will decide on formal charges.

Daily Journal news editor Noah Crenshaw contributed to this report.