Apartment fire remains suspicious
CONNELLSVILLE – As federal, state and local law enforcement agents continue to investigate the cause of a suspicious fire that damaged an Arch Street apartment building on Monday, a city man remains jailed in connection with another blaze. Police have yet to rule whether the 7:30 a.m. fire that caused some structural damage to the porch area of the 407 S. Arch Street building is arson related.
“Right now, we’re calling it suspicious,” said Joe Childs, city fire chief on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a preliminary hearing scheduled Tuesday for Harvey Upton was continued to an unspecified date.
Police have charged Upton, 36, with setting fire to his 1107 Sycamore St. residence on Oct. 22.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at about 8:45 p.m. when neighbors spotted fire at the rear of the home.
Police said that a bank was in the process of foreclosure proceedings after Upton failed to make loan payments. Upton and his family were in the process of moving from the residence when the fire took place.
Upton was arraigned before District Justice Michael Rubish and lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $50,000 straight cash bond imposed at the time of the hearing.
Police are currently investigating 21 arson-related fires that have taken place over the past 14 months.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which has partnered with the city to apprehend the arsonists, and the Fayette County Crime Stoppers are offering rewards.
The ATF is offering a $5,000 reward, while the county agency is offering up to $4,000 for information.
Anyone with information concerning the fires should contact the ATF at 888-ATF-FIRE (888-283-3473), the Crime Stoppers tip line at 724-437-TIPS (8477) or the Connellsville police at 724-628-2501.