March 23, 2009
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

MAN ARRESTED FOR SETTING SKATEBOARD
RAMP ON FIRE

Fed up with kids skateboarding in his West Highlands neighborhood, 45-year-old Lewis Smith decided to take matters into his own hands. On Sunday night, Lewis set the kids’ skateboard ramp on fire in the middle of 17th Street and Central Avenue just west of Orange City. County firefighters, who already had their hands full battling a series of brush fires, were called to douse the flames that had engulfed the skateboard ramp. And for Smith, the deed earned him a trip to jail after responding Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies charged him with criminal mischief.

When deputies were called to the scene at about 8:05 p.m. Sunday night, firefighters with Volusia County Fire Services were already putting out the blaze, but had to quickly leave to respond to two other fires. Meanwhile, several residents -- including a 35-year-old man who had built the skateboard ramp for neighborhood children to use -- were engaged in a verbal dispute with Smith. Neighbors said there had been friction over the skateboard ramp because Smith didn’t like it in the road.

While being interviewed by deputies, Smith said he had told the man who built the ramp several times to keep it out of the road. On Sunday, Smith said he decided to get rid of the problem by using a lighter to set the ramp on fire. Smith was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach and then released on his own recognizance.