Credit: Falls Township police
In the weeks leading up to the arrest of 23-year-old Falls Township resident Abraham Kalilu Keita Jr. for his alleged role in an arson blaze caused by fireworks, police said they were investigating him as part of a drug probe.
Keita, according to court papers filed by Falls police Tuesday afternoon, is accused of selling $80 worth of marijuana and $75 worth of marijuana to an informant working with investigators on May 2 and May 30.
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Keita was jailed earlier this month on charges he was with a group of teenagers from Falls and Lower Makefield were responsible for the arson. Late at night on Saturday, June 3, Keita and a group of teens allegedly lit a small firework called a “Proton Blast” fountain and threw it at the home of the Nollie family at 531 Steven Road. The firework, which was taken from a nearby food store, caused the home and several vehicles to burn. The next day, the 23 year old and the teens were linked to a small brush fire at Rock Springs Apartments in the 900 block of West Trenton Avenue. Police said last week that Keita might also be connected to several other more minor fireworks incidents in Falls.
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Lt. Hank Ward said Keita’s latest arrest was in the works before the arson happened.
“We have been investigating him for some time and bought drugs from him twice and were going to buy drugs from him again when we discovered he had committed the arson. He was arrested before we bought from him a third time,” Ward said.
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Keita has also been confirmed to be in the United States illegally from Liberia. Police said they have alerted federal authorities and they have filed an immigration detainer against him.
Keita was arraigned Tuesday afternoon by District Judge Jan Vislosky on charges of possession of drugs, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Keita remains in the Bucks County Correctional Facility unable to post 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.
