A Levittown man was arrested Tuesday after Bristol Borough police said he set fires at an encampment occupied by people experiencing homelessness.
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On Tuesday around 9:30 a.m., a detective out on patrol was dispatched to the 2100 block of Hunter Road in the borough for a report of a fire.
The arriving detective was greeted by the staff from a lumberyard who directed him to fires in the woods behind the property and beyond a fence. Arguing could be heard coming from the woods, according to court papers.
Smoke was visible coming from the wooded area that is known to house encampments between the businesses on Hunter Road and Delaware Canal State Park.
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Several people at the fire scene said Michael J. Robertson, 44, set the camp on fire and was trying to hurt everyone.
One man stated Robertson made threats of starting a fire because he was looking for meth and wanted to blow up propane tanks, according to police.
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A woman who was at the camp told the detective Robertson had threatened to burn down the camp if he did not get meth, police said.
Robertson was found at the scene near a burning tent, police said.
The fire was put down and Robertson was taken back to the borough police station, authorities said.
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One of the homeless camp residents said Robertson set a fire just 2 feet from the tent he was in, police said.
Robertson was also accused of stealing a pair of flip flops.
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Robertson was preliminarily arraigned by District Judge Frank Peranteau Sr. Tuesday afternoon on charges of arson, risking catastrophe, theft, receiving stolen property, and two counts of reckless endangerment. He was sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $40,000.
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.
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