Princeton Police Lieutenant Charged With First-Degree Arson Over August Fire

PRINCETON, W.Va. — A longtime officer with the Princeton Police Department is now facing a serious criminal charge of his own.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal's Office announced Wednesday that its investigators have arrested R.M. Combs, a lieutenant with the Princeton Police Department, on a charge of first-degree arson.

The charge is tied to a structure fire on Aug. 4, 2026, in the 900 block of Harrison Street in Princeton. Fire investigators have been working that case in the months since, and Wednesday's arrest is the result of that investigation. The West Virginia State Police helped with the arrest.

A 12-year veteran of the department

Combs has worked for the Princeton Police Department for 12 years. Following the arrest, the department took him off the job while both an internal investigation and the criminal case move forward. Princeton Police Chief Ben Woodard said Combs has been suspended without pay pending further disciplinary action, and that every officer is held to the highest standards of conduct.

The State Fire Marshal's Office said the City of Princeton and the Princeton Police Department have cooperated fully with investigators throughout the case.

What happens next

Combs was taken before a Mercer County magistrate after his arrest. No bond had been set as of Wednesday.

First-degree arson is a felony in West Virginia. Under state law, it generally involves deliberately setting fire to a dwelling or the buildings around it.

It is important to remember that a charge is only an accusation. Combs is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.

For folks in Princeton and across Mercer County, this is a hard one. Communities here lean on the men and women who wear the badge, and news like this is tough to hear. We will keep following the case and share updates as the court process plays out.