Man charged in arson, false report

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk fire officials have charged a man with setting his estranged wife’s vehicle on fire and falsely reporting a rape near his home on Halloween.

According to Capt. Mike Hicks with Norfolk Fire Rescue, fire crews were dispatched to the 3000 block of East Ocean View Avenue around 9 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a vehicle fire.

An investigation revealed Dan Ran Rowe, 57, slashed his estranged wife’s tires, broke out a rear window and set it on fire, Hicks said. Rowe’s wife left him days prior but had returned to the home to gather belongings.

Hicks said Rowe barricaded himself inside the home and called 911 to falsely report a rape across the street.

Rowe was arrested and charged with arson to a vehicle, damage to a vehicle and false report/false call.