Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A Bristol Township teen admitted to setting three arson fires. The most recent involved him stealing a truck and blowing it up early Saturday morning, authorities said.
Colin Reilly, 18, of Merlin Street, is facing charges of arson, conspiracy, theft, criminal trespass, possession of an instrument of crime, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.
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Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito said fire crews responded to a reported vehicle fire at the Stone Bridge Run apartments at Bristol-Oxford Valley and Bath roads at 6:50 a.m. Saturday to find a $30,000 2004 Ford bucket truck belonging to an electrical contractor engulfed in flames.
The suspect, according to court documents, suffered second-degree burns to his face and both hands. He walked himself to Lower Bucks Hospital down the street.
A short time later, police spoke with Reilly. He told the investigators he was burned during a bonfire accident the previous night. They left, he was free.
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The fire marshal’s office and police continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, but were coming up empty, officials said.
That was until investigators were contacted by the 18-year-old after he was released from the hospital just after noon. He told police he stole the truck from a garage at Merlin and Harrison streets. He also confessed to dumped gasoline all over the seats of the truck and sparking with a cigarette lighter, police said.
Reilly was burned as the work truck exploded into flames, Dippolito said.
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The 18-year-old also admitted to a spree of thefts from vehicles that evening. He stole cash, a satellite radio system and several cellphones overnight, police said.
Dippolito said Reilly also admitted to being involved with two other previously unsolved arson fires in the township.
One of the previous arson fire happened in 2010 at an large trailer which was often used as a party spot, Dippolito said.
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The fire marshal did not have the details on the second arson in front of him when he spoke with LevittownNow.com late Saturday night.
Police said they had trouble processing Reilly due to his injuries.
Reilly was arraigned Saturday afternoon before District Judge Robert Wagner; he was released on $250,000 unsecured bail, according to court records.
