By Jeff Pratt
The Sentinel
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Shoe impressions led police to arrest a Mechanicsburg fireman in connection with a recent string of arson fires in the Mechanicsburg area.
After responding to a fire in the 100 block of Miller’s Gap Road in Silver Spring Township around noon Thursday, officials on site ruled the fire an arson and a suspect was identified, according to a police report from the Mechanicsburg Police Department.
The suspect, Collin Miller, 22, of the first block of North Locust Point Road, was subsequently interviewed by detectives from Silver Spring Township and Mechanicsburg police departments and admitted to breaking into the Miller’s Gap Road residence and setting the fire, as well as three additional fires, police said. Miller was an active member of the Mechanicsburg Fire Department during this time frame, police said.
Mechanicsburg police said Miller faces two counts of each of the following charges: Arson first degree felony, Arson second degree felony, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Risking a Catastrophe, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass Summary. abc27 News reported that Silver Spring Township police also filed charges including arson, recklessly endangering, risking catastrophe, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass.
Bail in each case was set at $125,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 12.
Silver Spring Police said that at the fire scene there were shoes impressions located that were believed to be associated with the suspect. Additionally, police said firefighters who responded to the fire said Miller was in the area at the time of their arrival.
According to the police report, two fires Miller admitted to setting were set in Silver Spring Township and two fires in Mechanicsburg Borough. The fires in Mechanicsburg Borough that Miller admitted to setting were in the 200 block of East Main Street and the 1100 block of East Simpson Street. Miller also confessed to setting another fire on Aug. 4, 2015, in Silver Spring Township.
Police said Miller was taken into custody and is currently at the Cumberland County Prison awaiting arraignment upon the filing of criminal charges related to arson.
Silver Spring Township police will file a separate set of charges.
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