NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police in Lawrence County have dropped charges against a man who was arrested with seven others last month on charges they set 12 arson fires in the last two years.
Police have determined that 20-year-old Stephen Threats, of New Castle, is not the man they were wanted to arrest.
Police said another Stephen Threats, who has a similar birth date but a different birth year, is now wanted by police. They have yet to arrest that man.
Police said the man they wrongly arrested and the man still at large are distant relatives.
The other suspects - who police contend all knew each other - didn't know the Stephen Threats who was arrested. Also, police said the Stephen Threats they arrested was in jail on other charges when one of the fires was set.
Six young adults and two juveniles were taken into custody Tuesday in New Castle, a city that has seen dozens of confirmed arsons in vacant buildings since early 2008.
Police are still investigating a motive for the fires. Officers told Channel 4 Action News that copper pipes were removed from some of the fire scenes. Police Chief Thomas Sansone said the suspects are accused of working in small groups of two to four people.
The other suspects are identified as:
- Ruben James Suarez, 23, accused in connection with fires at nine properties
- Steven Sheridan, 22, accused in connection with fires at seven properties
- Mark A. Quear, 20, accused in connection with fires at five properties
- Rachelle Marie Lombardo, 24, accused in connection with fires at four properties (in custody at county jail)
- Darrell Rice Jr., 20
- A male juvenile, accused in connection with one fire
- A male juvenile, accused in connection with one fire
New Castle has had a total of more than 100 fires in vacant structures since early 2008, including 34 since mid-2007 in the city's lower east side alone.
New Castle officials have established an arson tip line. Anyone with information about any fires is asked to call 724-656-3067.
- October 28, 2009: 'We Finally Got 'Em:' New Castle, ATF Break Arson Cases
- September 27, 2009: 3 Fires Ignite In New Castle Area Over Weekend
- September 24, 2009: Fire Demolishes Abandoned New Castle Home
- September 13, 2009: Another New Castle House Fire
- August 24, 2009: New Castle Arsons Continue; Vacant Home Burns Again
- August 17, 2009: 3 People Being Investigated After Latest New Castle Fire
- August 7, 2009: Fire Crews Battle Blaze In Arson-Plagued New Castle
- July 21, 2009: Another Home Burns In New Castle
- July 15, 2009: Another Home Burns; 50+ Arsons Have New Castle In Fear
- July 14, 2009: 2 New Fires In Arson-Plagued Lawrence Co. Borough
- June 3, 2009: String Of Arsons Has New Castle, Residents Burning Up
- June 1, 2009: Reward Offered In String Of New Castle Fires
- May 24, 2009: Arson Investigators Called To New Castle Fires
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