A man from St. Thomas, described by police as a “prolific offender,” has been arrested after a fire on Sunday morning devastated a new building downtown that was intended for housing and retail space.
The structure, located in the 600-block of Talbot Street in St. Thomas, was under construction and nearing completion when flames broke out around 4 a. m., burning well into the morning.
Over 20 firefighters responded to the scene, deploying aerial water trucks to combat the blaze.
Police swiftly labeled the incident as arson, sharing an update on social media by 11 a. m., and noted that there were no injuries reported.
Following their investigation, authorities announced on Sunday evening that they had arrested Joseph Penfound, 44, from St. Thomas in connection with the fire.
Penfound faces charges including arson, failing to comply with a probation order, and possession of a schedule 1 substance. He is familiar to law enforcement and currently has 13 charges pending in court. He has been remanded into custody.
The non-profit housing organization Indwell operates nearby apartments adjacent to the affected building. In a statement, regional director Jessica Brand confirmed that all staff and residents were unharmed.
The St. Thomas bus depot is also situated next to where the fire occurred. The city announced on Sunday that bus service would be suspended until further notice.
By Sunday afternoon, Talbot Street remained closed between Ross Street and Princess Avenue.
Source link
Source link
