Compass owner charged with arson

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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.