MI Man Charged with Setting Occupied Bensalem, PA, House Fire
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A Michigan man has been charged after he allegedly drove more than 700 miles to Pennsylvania and started a house fire.
Harrison Jones, 21, of Rockford, has been charged in Bensalem Township with six counts of attempted homicide and arson.
The charges come after a two-story home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way was destroyed at 5:22 a.m. on Feb. 10. Six adults were forced to evacuate the residence, some of which jumped from second-story windows. Two dogs died in the blaze, police said.
Surveillance footage showed a suspect exiting a 2021 Volkswagen Passat and approaching the residence at 5:01 a.m. The suspect then runs back to the vehicle 15 minutes later as smoke begins billowing from the home.
Within 30 seconds, a large explosion occurs, and the house became engulfed in flames.
Police used the vehicle’s license plate to identify Jones and determined that he is the ex-boyfriend of a 21-year-old female who recently engaged in an online relationship with a 22-year-old who lives at the residence on Merganser Way.
“He drove over 730 miles — 11 hours — to do what he did and drove directly back home,” William McVay, Bensalem Township Director of Public Safety, said.
“This family was extremely lucky to survive this. It is clear to us that Mr. Jones had murderous intentions.”
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest of Jones. They seized the Passat, lock-picking devices, a cell phone, and computer. He also had what appeared to be burns on his arm, deputies said.
He is awaiting extradition back to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Police released the following statement:
“We would especially like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Bensalem Township Police Officers, Fire Investigators, and Bensalem Detectives who took a grainy image of a vehicle and turned it into the arrest of a suspect who traveled over 700 miles and 11+ hours each way to commit crimes that nearly cost six people their lives.”
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