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Arsonist 'Threatened To Kill Several People With A Knife,' Lancaster County, Police Say
A 44-year-old man with seven separate convictions over 25 years— including arson for setting the apartment he shared with his girlfriend and children on fire— pulled out a knife and threatened to kill people in Columbia, Pennsylvania, according to area police.
Charles Edward Swanigan, Jr. was arrested after witnesses told the police that he "threatened to kill several people with a knife," in the 600 block of Fairview Avenue, Columbia at approximately 10:56 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, area police say.
He was charged with two counts of terroristic threats and was held in the…
Welder Sets Former Employer's Cars On Fire Twice In One Day, Police In LanCo. Say
A welder who lost his job apparently wanted his former employee to feel the fire of the fury he was going through, literally— igniting multiple cars on fire, puncturing over 25 tires, and causing property damage to the Lancaster County business, authorities say.
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&n…
Arson At Shippensburg Sheetz, Police Say
A man set a Sheetz in Shippensburg on fire during a burglary on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, authorities say.
James Allen Duncan, 30, of Shippensburg, went to the closed Sheetz at 15 North Washington Street and kicked in a side door to enter around 5 p.m. on March 7, 2023, area police stated in a release the following day.
Smoke was seen billowing from the building between 10 to 15 minutes after Duncan left it, according to the police.
"When the Fire Department arrived they observed Duncan walking East on Martin Ave. toward the Sheetz. Officers came into contact with Duncan at…
Two Rooms Burned In Arsonist's Blaze At Carlisle Motel: Police
A Carlisle motel was set on fire on Thursday, March 2, 2023, Middlesex Township police stated in a release the following day.
Roy Sampson, 57, of Carlise, was in a vacant room trying to start a fire when the police were called to the Diamond Carlisle Motel located at 1245 Harrisburg Pike, according to the release.
Upon arrival, officers found two vacant rooms "actively on fire."
"Officers would speak to a witness and soon after would locate the suspect, Roy Sampson walking through the parking lot of the motel," as stated in the release.
Sampson was arrested at 12:48 p.m…
PA Man Sets House On Fire With Police Inside: Report
A Pennsylvania man is police custody after authorities say he set his house on fire while state troopers were inside, according to a report from CBS 21.
John Andrew Young, 59, of Montour County, is charged with three counts of attempted murder, making terroristic threats, and related offenses, state court records show.
Troopers were dispatched to a home on R & H Avenue in Liberty Township at around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 for a reported domestic disturbance, the outlet wrote.
When officers were inside, investigators say Young retreated to a back room and started a fire …
Arson, DUI Homicide Charges Filed Against Man Who Killed PA Dad Of Six Along Route 147: Police
A man with 6 active criminal cases has been arrested for two more crimes, one of which involves the death of a father of six, authorities say.Rindy Lee Martin, 44, of Elizabethville, already had been charged with false calls to 911 and drug possession when he was charged in connection with arson on Oct. 9 in his hometown, and arrested on Oct. 11, court records show.
But since his arson arrest, Martin has been slapped with 10 charges in connection with a crash that killed Stephen J. Gimmi, 43, of Halifax, on Mar. 16, 2022, authorities say.
The crash happened when Martin's 20…
