COWLEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Cowley County are investigating an arson fire and have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, police reported Brandon Michael Cleverley, 18, is being held on a $10,000 Bond in the Cowley County jail on suspicion of aggravated arson in connect with a fire inside the Hamburger Shack, 611 W. Madison Avenue in Arkansas City, according to a media release.

Police also interviewed and arrested a 16-year-old Arkansas City girl on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated arson.

Officers responded fire on Friday and interviewed three employees who had extinguished the flames.

The workers reported passing by the business and seeing visible flames, then entering the restaurant to put them out.

They reported seeing Cleverley, a co-worker, walking away from the area.

A brief verbal exchange took place at that time, after which Cleverley ran away and two employees gave chase, they reported.

A passing witness assisted them by calling the police department.

Cleverley was brought back to the business. He and the other employees were questioned about the circumstances of the fire by police and an arson investigator from the Ark City Fire-EMS

Department. Police learned the suspect allegedly had attempted to start several areas on fire and was successful in lighting a gas line on fire prior to leaving the business.

He was interviewed and later arrested. Because another business shares an adjoining wall with the Hamburger Shack and there were several people inside that business at the time of the fire, the case is being treated as aggravated arson.