By Andrew Goldstein
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — A Beaver Falls man accused of setting fire to 10 abandoned houses was ordered today to stand trial on arson and related charges.
Zachary William Metcalf, 21, pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of arson and one count of criminal trespass at a preliminary hearing before District Judge Edward Howe. The judge also added eight counts of arson endangering property.
Police said Mr. Metcalf was responsible for a string of arsons in Beaver Falls and in neighboring White Township beginning Aug. 29.
He told police he was “tired of the city not addressing the abandoned homes in the area,” according to a criminal complaint.
Beaver Falls police Sgt. Michael Kryder and Patterson assistant police Chief Dave Stanislawski testified at today’s hearing that Metcalf used a lighter to ignite the fires and that in two cases he ignited curtains and a pile of clothes to start the blazes. Patterson patrols White Township.
Public defender Dirk Goodwald asked the judge to postpone the hearing so Metcalf could undergo a behavioral evaluation, but the judge denied the request.
Mr. Metcalf was arrested Sept. 29 when an officer on patrol saw him walk onto the property of an abandoned house at 1919 West Ave. in Beaver Falls, look around the yard, then enter through the back door, police said. When Mr. Metcalf came out, the officer approached him and told him to get on the ground, according to a criminal complaint.
Mr. Metcalf was taken into custody there, police said. Beaver Falls police Chief Charles Jones said Mr. Metcalf had some sort of item that could be used to light a fire when he was arrested, but the chief would not say what it was.
Police had been investigating the fires since the first one was set in August. Mr. Metcalf lives in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Beaver Falls within blocks of where several of the fires occurred.
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