Lack of witness leads prosecutors to drop charges against Harborcreek man in Erie fire
A Harborcreek Township man accused by Erie police of setting a fire that damaged a truck and two houses had his criminal case withdrawn on Thursday after the Erie County District Attorney's Office said a witness in the case failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.
Prosecutors withdrew felony counts of arson, reckless burning, risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief against 43-year-old Ryan R. Mook at his preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon.
Erie police filed the charges on Nov. 23 following an investigation into an April 26 fire in the 400 block of Poplar Street. Investigators accused Mook of setting fire to a Chevrolet Silverado, with the fire spreading to and damaging two neighboring houses.
More: Erie police: Reported spat over plumbing payment fueled arson that damaged truck, houses
Detectives wrote in the criminal complaint against Mook that the truck's owner said he had a dispute with Mook over payment for plumbing work at the owner's residence. Investigators also spoke to a witness who stated Mook admitted to setting a truck on fire because he was not paid what he deserved for a job, and reportedly drove the witness past the scene of the fire, according to information in the complaint's affidavit of probable cause.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: No witness leads DA to withdraw charges against man in Erie fire
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