Two men face $1 million bonds for Ohio River Bridge arson charges

In a tragic incident that occurred weeks ago, a massive fire severely damaged a major bridge over the Ohio River in Cincinnati, affecting the vital transport link between downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The fire was set deliberately at a playground site underneath the bridge, leading to the arrest of four individuals connected to the arson and subsequent investigation. According to officials, two men, identified as Terry Stiles and Jeremy Stumpf, have been charged with aggravated arson and are being held on $1 million bond each. Stiles faced courtroom trouble and did not attend his hearing in person, highlighting the chaotic nature of his arrest. The Cincinnati Fire Department's investigation uncovered that Stiles and Stumpf allegedly created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to motorists using the bridge. The other two arrested individuals, identified as Hall and Hamilton, are accused of obstructing the investigation. Hall allegedly provided False statements to the police during questioning, while Hamilton is accused of giving misleading information intended to hinder law enforcement's efforts to find Stiles. The incident has caused significant traffic disruptions as repairs on the bridge began, with all southbound lanes of Interstate 471 remaining closed for an extended period, estimated to last until March. Authorities have begun removing sections of the damaged concrete bridge deck and assessing the extent of the fire damage. Custom-made steel to replace the damaged beams is scheduled for arrival in mid-January, but repair work will depend on the winter weather and the state of the damaged girders and concrete wall. As local officials engage with different jurisdictions to address the ongoing traffic chaos and delays in repair works, city council members emphasize that more efforts are necessary to mitigate the extensive traffic congestion resulting from this incident. The Ohio Department of Transportation estimates that repair projects will continue through the end of the year, depending on various factors, including the outcomes of tests on the most damaged bridge components. In the meantime, congestion continues to plague drivers, illustrating the impact of this arson on daily transportation in the Cincinnati area.