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The ex-employee, 36-year-old John Derek Hays, 36, of Akron, lost his job at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing & Heating in East Hempfield Township on Monday, March 6, 2023, according to East Hempfield Township Police.
In total, 10 vehicles had the tires and two of the vehicles were completely destroyed by the fires at 464 Running Pump Road, the release details. The vehicles were valued at $80,000, according to the release.
Hays "was wanted on an arrest warrant for Arson and related charges from a similar incident the day before at the same business," the police said in a second release,
Charges for arson, burglary, causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and criminal trespass were filed later that day, and Hays was taken into custody by West Earl Township on Thursday, March 9 at 5:12 a.m., as detailed in a follow-up release.
East Hempfield police and the Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal are still investigating.
Hays is a convict who served time in prison for theft/receiving stolen property and drug charges in Franklin and York counties, court records show.
His LinkedIn shows he follows a company that specializes in giving people "a second chance," although it is unclear if this company was in any way involved with him getting the position with the plumbing and heating company where the fires were set.
He "was arraigned before MDJ Brian Chudzik on both sets of charges. Bail was set at $150,000 for the March 8th charges and $250,000 for the March 9th charges. HAYS was unable to post bail, and he was remanded to Lancaster County Prison," the police explained in the follow-up release.
Editor's Note: This article was updated to include new information from the police and the arrested agency was corrected from West Hempfiled Township Police to West Earl Township Police. A new mugshot was also released and added to the main images.
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