Latest news with #BensalemPolice
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man drives 730 miles to burn down ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend's house, police say
(WPHL) – A Michigan man is in prison after driving more than 730 miles to Pennsylvania to set fire to a home where his ex-girlfriend's new love interest was living, police said Monday. Police in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, said the suspect set fire to the home a little after 5 a.m. on Feb. 10. Law enforcement and fire officials responded to the house — which was 'fully engulfed' — and located six adults who had evacuated, including one who jumped out of a second-story window to escape, Bensalem Police's Director of Public Safety William McVey said at the news conference Monday. 'At the time the fire started, all the residents in the house were sleeping. This is obviously a nightmare for anyone,' McVey said. McVey also said the home's residents were able to escape thanks to the actions of the 'mother of that house,' who investigated suspicious noises and discovered the fire before it spread to the whole home. 'It's a miracle they all survived, and we credit the mother of that house for taking the actions that she did to protect her family and ensure that they all lived,' McVey said. Massive fire burns at warehouse in Jenkintown; local schools closed Detectives with the Bensalem Police identified a suspect — 21-year-old Harrison Jones — after studying surveillance footage of a 2021 black Volkswagen Passat that had arrived in the neighborhood a few hours before the fire began. The car also had Michigan plates, which were registered to Harrison's father, McVey said. A little after 5 a.m. on Feb. 10, the suspect was seen getting out of the Volkswagen and walking toward the rear of the house. He returned to the car briefly and then went back to the rear of the house for another 12 minutes, police said. At 5:18 a.m. he was then seen running from the home, getting in his car and taking off. 'Thirty seconds later, smoke is seen coming from the rear of the property and an explosion of fire,' McVey said. Working together with the Bensalem police, the Kent County Sheriff's Department in Michigan searched the home of the Volkswagen owner and learned that Jones was the sole driver of that car. At the house, they also found 'lidocaine, burn cream' and gauze, which were presumably used to treat a recent burn. Police also interviewed Jones, who was not forthcoming with information, and denied driving to Pennsylvania, McVey said. Bensalem Police, however, had said they located surveillance footage from a nearby Wawa, which placed Harrison within an hour of the scene of the crime. What does 'Wawa' even mean? The company offers up a hint Investigators said they later determined Jones was the ex-boyfriend of a Michigan woman who was currently in an online relationship with a 22-year-old man living in the Pennsylvania home. Jones' ex-girlfriend was supposed to come from Michigan to Bensalem to meet her love interest in person for the first time this week, police said. Jones was arrested in Michigan and is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania. He is being charged with six counts of attempted criminal homicide, as well as arson, risking catastrophe and related offenses. The residents of the home were all treated at area hospitals for smoke inhalation, including one who suffered a more 'serious' case. All have been released. Two dogs inside the house, however, have died, McVey confirmed. 'This family was extremely lucky to survive this,' McVey said. 'It was clear to us that Mr. Jones had murderous intentions that evening.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man drives over 700 miles to set fire to home of man talking with his ex-girlfriend: Police
A man has been arrested and charged with six counts of attempted homicide after driving over 700 miles and allegedly setting fire to the home of a man who had been communicating with his ex-girlfriend, police said. The alleged arson took place at 5:22 a.m. on Feb. 10 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, when the Bensalem Township Police and the Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department responded to the 5200 block of Merganser Way to a report of a dwelling fire, according to a statement from the Bensalem Police Department on Monday. '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,' police said. 'Fire engulfed the two-story single-family dwelling, which resulted in a total loss. Two dogs perished in the fire, and the six adults were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries.' MORE: Man arrested for murder after 65-year-old roommate's remains found inside suitcase in East River MORE: K-9 killed in the line of duty laid to rest by hundreds of law enforcement officers Officials from the Bensalem Fire Rescue and Bensalem Police Detectives began investigating the cause of the fire and discovered that it appeared to be 'intentionally set and incendiary in nature.' 'Nearby home surveillance captured a black sedan as it passed the home on Merganser Way and stopped at the Mallard Drive intersection at 5:01 a.m.,' police said. '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. 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.' The only lead in the case at the time was a grainy image of a black sedan from a neighbor's surveillance system, police said. During the investigation, detectives 'utilized township intersection cameras to identify and track the vehicle entering and exiting the township,' according to Bensalem Police. MORE: 26-year-old mother charged in alleged murder of 4-month-old son MORE: Over 160 unexploded bombs from World War II found under children's playground 'While in Bensalem, the car passed through an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) installed. Detectives found that the 2021 black Volkswagen Passat had a Michigan registration,' authorities said. 'The vehicle came back to Brian Jones of Rockford, Michigan.' An additional search of various ALPRs across the state enabled detectives to track the vehicle traveling toward Bensalem before the fire and back toward Michigan after the fire had been set.'[Detectives] 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,' police continued. 'The ex-boyfriend of the female from Michigan was identified as Harrison Jones of Rockford, Michigan, who lives at the same address as the owner of the Volkswagen Passat.' The Kent County Sheriff's Office subsequently obtained a search warrant for Harrison Jones's residence and seized the 2021 Volkswagen Passat where they found lock-picking devices, a cell phone and computer. Authorities also discovered what appeared to be burns on Jones' arms when they made contact with him. MORE: Off-duty corrections officer killed in 'targeted' attack: Police MORE: 12-year-old boy dies at motocross event in dirt bike racing accident Jones was arrested by the Kent County Sheriff's Department and charged with six counts of attempted criminal homicide, arson and risking catastrophe. 'The Bensalem Township Police Department would like to thank the Kent County Michigan Sherriff's Department for deploying numerous resources and manpower to identify, interview, and arrest Harrison Jones for these heinous acts,' police said. 'We would especially like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Bensalem Township Police Officers, Fire Investigators, and Bensalem Detectives who took a grainy image of a vehicle and turned it into the arrest of a suspect who traveled over 700 miles and 11+ hours each way to commit crimes that nearly cost six people their lives.' The investigation is currently ongoing. Man drives over 700 miles to set fire to home of man talking with his ex-girlfriend: Police originally appeared on
