Sept. 29--BEAVER FALLS -- Police arrested a city man early Tuesday who they believe is responsible for 11 local acts of arson.
Zachary Metcalf, 21, has been charged by Beaver Falls police with nine counts of arson and a count of criminal trespassing.
According to police, Metcalf was arrested Tuesday morning not far from the scene of a fire in White Township. He is accused of setting nine fires in Beaver Falls. Police suspect he is also responsible for two fires in White Township, which is patrolled by Patterson Township police.
"It is my pleasure to announce that we made an arrest regarding these arsons," said Beaver Falls Police Chief Charles Jones.
According to a police report, officers increased patrols in the Mount Washington area of Beaver Falls when the series of arsons started in late August. Responders were called to a fire at 9 p.m. Monday in the 2200 block of Short 10th Avenue in White Township, an abandoned home directly next to the scene of a Sunday night fire.
While crews were fighting the fire, police walked up to the 1900 block of West Avenue in Beaver Falls, just a few blocks from the blaze. Officers saw Metcalf look around and then enter 1919 West Ave. -- an abandoned home -- through a back door.
Metcalf was arrested and brought back to the police station for questioning, where he admitted to starting the fires, police said.
Jones said the department believes Metcalf was working alone. A motive was disclosed to police, but Jones did not release that information.
"This was a troubling investigation. We worked very closely with our fire department," Jones said. "I can't emphasize enough how happy we are that we were able to make an arrest and resolve these issues."
Metcalf, of 1610 12th Ave., Beaver Falls, is in the Beaver County Jail on $250,000 bond, according to online court records.
Patterson Township Assistant Police Chief David Stanislawski said his department is investigating the two White Township fires and will be interviewing Metcalf in jail. As of Tuesday night, no additional charges were filed.
Copyright 2015 - Beaver County Times, Pa.
