Baltimore man charged with arson in Canonsburg car fire
A Baltimore man was jailed on arson charges after allegedly setting a car on fire Saturday morning in Canonsburg.
Canonsburg firefighters and police responded to the report of a vehicle fire about 3:25 a.m. on North Jefferson Avenue.
Police Chief Alex Coghill said no one was inside the vehicle, which burned about 10-15 feet from an apartment building.
A witness told police she saw a man walking near the building and the car before allegedly pouring an accelerant on the top and side of the car, according to police documents. The witness told police she saw the man slowly walk away from the car. When he was out of her line of vision, she noticed the car on fire.
“She gave a good description of the suspect,” Coghill said.
Police later identified the man as Steven Patrick Downey, 31, of Baltimore. Coghill said they located Downey walking across the bridge on Morganza Road.
Police said the car that burned was a black Mitsubishi with a Maryland plate. Coghill said Downey had been staying with someone in the nearby apartment building. Police are still investigating Downey’s motives for burning the vehicle.
Downey was charged with two counts of arson, causing catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned Saturday morning by District Judge Mark Wilson and jailed on $25,000 bond.