A man drove more than 700 miles and over 11 hours each way to allegedly set fire to the home of another man who had reportedly been talking to his ex-girlfriend, police have said.
On Monday, Feb. 17, Bensalem Police Department confirmed suspect Harrison Jones, of Rockford, Michigan, had been arrested and charged with six counts of attempted homicide after allegedly setting a 5200 block of Merganser Way property ablaze in the Pennsylvania township at around 5:22 a.m. local time on Monday, Feb. 10, per anews release.
Officers said that Bensalem Township Police and the Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department responded to “a report of a dwelling fire,” adding, “Upon arrival, Emergency Services located six adult residents who had evacuated from the home, some of whom had to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames.”
Harrison Jones; the Bensalem, Pennsylvania property that was set on fire.Bensalem Police Facebook
Bensalem Police Facebook
“A subject exits the vehicle with an object and walks towards the residence. After approximately 15 minutes, the subject appears to run back to his waiting vehicle and departs the area on Mallard Drive towards Portside Drive,” the police continued. “As the suspect vehicle fled the area, smoke could be seen billowing up from the rear yard of the home, and within 30 seconds, a large explosion was observed, and the house became engulfed in flames.”
Harrison Jones mugshot.Bensalem Police Facebook
Detectives managed to track the vehicle “entering and exiting the township,” as it “passed through an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) installed.”
The 2021 black Volkswagen Passat was traced back to Brian Jones, who lives at the same address as the suspect Jones.
Police also interviewed Merganser Way residents, and they “discovered that a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a female who lived in Michigan and was supposed to come to Bensalem to meet in person for the first time this week.” Suspect Jones was then identified as the ex-boyfriend of the female, officers added, per the release.
Photo of fire at home in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.Bensalem Police Facebook
With assistance from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, a search warrant for Jones' residence was obtained, and officers seized the car, as well as lock-picking devices, a cell phone and a computer, the post continued.
“When the Kent County Sheriff’s Office made contact with him, he also had what appeared to be burns on his arm,” the police claim.
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The Bensalem, Pennsylvania property that was set on fire.Bensalem Police Facebook
After the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office gave approval for an arrest warrant for the suspect, he was charged with “six counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide, Arson, Risking Catastrophe, and related offenses” and is “awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania,” per the release.
source: people.com
