Police have made an arrest in connection with a fire that destroyed the InterRoyal Mill in Plainfield nearly two years ago.
Felix Lebron, 19, of Sterling, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Friday and charged with first-degree arson, police said.
The fire was set in the vacant mill back on April 26, 2005, forcing neighbors to flee their homes and sparking worries of environmental danger due to asbestos and lead in the business.
"I remember ashes falling by my house. I lived like two miles away from it. But ashes were falling everywhere. It was pretty devestating," said Jay Lemieux of Griswold.
The Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Agency have been working together with law enforcement on the case ever since, and their investigation got results.
The memory of the fire was still fresh in the minds of many Plainfield residents, some of whom weren't sure they would ever get answers.
"I certainly didn't think they'd ever find who did it," said resident Dan Aurand. "It was a terrible thing when it happened ... I'm just glad that they caught who did it, because it was a shame that it had to happen that way."
But exactly how it did happen was still a bit of a mystery Friday night, NBC 30's Erika Tarantal reported, as police were only releasing limited information because their work was ongoing.
"The warrant has been sealed by the court based upon the continuing investigation, so therefore there will not be any questions," Police Chief Gary Souza said.
Anyone with further information on the blaze is asked to call police.
Lebron was being held in lieu of $750,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court Monday, police said.
Previous Stories:
- April 28, 2005: Fire Marshal Says Plainfield Mill Fire Probably Set
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