Compass Restaurant owner, Ronald Clifton Cantey, 57, of Lake City, was arrested Monday evening and charged with arson in connection with the July 26, 2016 fire that destroyed the business. Cantey reportedly collected around $700,000 in fraudulent insurance claims in the incident. He was taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office on Monday by Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Randy Stewart and Deputy Peyton Way.
The owner of a popular restaurant outside of Turbeville that went up in flames last summer has been charged with setting fire to the long-running establishment.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office charged Ronald Clifton Cantey, co-owner of the Compass Restaurant, with arson for the July 26, 2016, fire.
A news release from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office states that the 57-year-old Cantey allegedly collected about $700,000 in fraudulent insurance claims after the blaze, which started about 10:45 p.m. July 26, 2016, and stopped traffic on U.S. 378 in both directions for several hours as firefighters fought the blaze.
Built in 1975, the restaurant was sold to Cantey about six years ago by the Green family.
The State Law Enforcement Division assisted with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office investigation.