A homeless man is accused of starting a fire at a under-renovation furniture store in Middletown on Christmas Eve.
Police responded to the future home of Bob’s Discount Furniture Store, the site of The Dump on Lincoln Highway, at 11:27 p.m. Wednesday for reports of a homeless man setting up a camp and fire in front of the structure.
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An officer arrived and found Alfred Barlow, 45, no fixed abode, surrounded by “out of control” four to five foot flames.
After Barlow was taken from the fire, he said he built two small fires next to an enclosure he made. The fires were used to keep him warm and dry his clothes, court papers say.
Barlow said his blanket caught fire while he was asleep.
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Penndel Fire Company and the Middletown Fire Marshal responded and put the flames out.
The building suffered burn marks on the bricks, police said.
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Barlow was charged with reckless burning and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned by a district judge and sent to prison on 10 percent of $50,000 bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
