Pocono News Section

Police Arrest Teen for Arson, Suspected in Others

Police Arrest Teen for Arson, Suspected in Others - Monday, July 6, 2009 at 5:32PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Jul 6, 2009 @ 05:32pm EST
OLD FORGE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- A 15-year-old boy is expected to face charges after an early morning arson in Lackawanna County. Police say the teen set the fire behind a home on Vine Street in Old Forge. Investigators say he may also be behind other fires in the tri-borough.

There's very little damage to the back porch of the home at 309 Vine Street in Old Forge. But police say just before 4:00 A. M. a 15-year-old boy started a fire here.

Police Chief Larry Semenza says the suspect was quickly caught at the scene. ÒIt was pretty much, pretty sharp police work by the night-shift guys, because they were able to see the person near the scene and basically track him down and question him a bit."

Carol Sabatelle lives across the street from where the fire happened. She saw the commotion. ÒThere were about four fire trucks out here and three police cars,Ó she said.

Other neighbors, who didn't want to go on camera, say this home has been vacant for years. They say whatÕs particularly disturbing is the fire happened right next to St. Michael's Church.

Another thing that makes this case disturbing is that police think the teenage firebug maybe behind other recent fires in the tri-borough. ÒWe're not sure if this is an isolated incident. We're working with Taylor Police. They had several suspicious fires in the fall, over the summer and the fall of last year. We're trying to put our heads together with them to see if anything else is connected to this fire, or this person," said Semenza.

Cops say another fire that may be connected to this teenage suspect is January's fire at the Hillcrest Factory. It destroyed the vacant factory.

The name of the teenaged suspect has not been released because of his age. The case will be referred to juvenile court.