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Burned Motorcyclist Arrested In Highlands Restaurant Fire

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 25, 2008

Robert Lee Marcum

TAMPA - An Okeechobee man who set fire to a Highlands County restaurant got caught up in the blaze and was taken to Tampa General Hospital, according to the state fire marshal's office.

The Rancher's Restaurant on State Road 70 suffered $178,000 in damage Sunday – a total loss, agency spokesman Sam Venzeio said.

The fire was called in at 1:12 a.m. and was put out by 5 a.m. Sunday, according to the fire marshal's office.

Firefighters from Okeechobee County, Lorida Volunteer Fire Department and the Seminole Indian Tribe Fire Department fought the blaze.

The report of a motorcycle leaving the scene of the fire led an Okeechobee law enforcement officer to try to stop Robert Lee Marcum, who was riding a motorcycle, Venzeio said. Marcum didn't stop until he got to the parking lot of an Okeechobee-area hospital.

He later was taken to Tampa General Hospital.

Marcum was arrested Tuesday and charged with burglary and second-degree arson.

He has burn scars on his face and hands, a criminal arrest affidavit states.

"I can tell you they were not life-threatening injuries," Venzeio said.

Details on why Marcum set the blaze were unavailable, Venzeio said.

Information from Highlands Today was used in this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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