Pennsylvania

Man Torches Furniture Store During Pennsylvania Crime Spree: Police

A man has been jailed on charges he burned down a central Pennsylvania furniture store as part of an early-morning crime spree in January, during which the suspect allegedly left behind his cellphone.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 36-year-old Colin Dowd, of Ridgway.

He faces a preliminary hearing May 5 on charges of arson for the fire that caused $500,000 damage to the Suzy's Furniture Store building in St. Marys, and several other thefts and break-ins, including at least one home burglary and several vehicles broken into near a Wal-Mart.

Police in St. Marys, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, say all this happened between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Jan. 2.

Police say the phone was left behind at a house where Dowd stole a bottle of liquor and tried to pry open a safe.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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