Two Charged With Arson In Unrelated Lowell And Malden Fires
BOSTON (CBS) – Two men are under arrest on separate, unrelated arson charges for fires last week in Lowell and Malden.
Namit Thapa, 28, of Malden, was arrested by Malden police Sunday, the Middlesex District Attorney's office reported.
Thapa is charged with arson and disorderly conduct in the burning of his own residence that caused injuries to two firefighters.
Malden firefighters responded to a fire just before 6 a.m. Friday at 63 Converse Ave. The 3-alarm fire started in the basement and spread throughout the three-story building according to the Malden Fire Department. Seven people were displaced by the fire.
Authorities said Thapa was not outside the building with the other residents. A tip to Malden police allegedly led them to investigate and subsequently charge Thapa, according to the District Attorney's office.
Thapa is expected to be arraigned in Malden District Court on Monday.
On Friday, Andres Ortiz-Arroyo, 24, of Lowell, was arraigned in Lowell District Court on arson charges for the burning of a business and a nearby residence in Lowell on May 7.
The DA's office reported that Lowell firefighters responded to a fire just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in a business at 604 Central St. About an hour later, police were called to a nearby two-family home at 49 Wamesit St. where flames were beginning to engulf the roof and eaves of the house.
Residents inside the house were evacuated and one was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Police allege that Ortiz-Arroyo started a fire by lighting trash in the alley between 604 and 602 Central Street, and lit another trash fire in an alley next to the Wamesit Street home.
He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday.
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