Three men are facing charges in connection with an August arson call that led to the death of a fire police officer.
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Bristol Township detectives filed warrants Friday for Charles William Vandenberg, 50, of Croydon; a 27-year-old Croydon man; and a 36-year-old Croydon man.
Vandenberg was taken into custody and preliminarily arraigned before District Judge Terry Hughes late in the afternoon on 17 charges, including solicitation of arson of an inhabited building, arson, reckless endangerment, possession of explosive/incendiary material, and risking catastrophe. He was being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $350,000 bail.
The two other men have not been arraigned yet, and their status could not be confirmed. One man faces arson offenses, while the other is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. None of the men face homicide or manslaughter charges.
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Police and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office were not immediately available for comment.
According to law enforcement and fire services sources, the investigation has focused on several men believed to be involved in the arson that damaged a home at 713 Cedar Avenue around 5:15 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.
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The fire was found to have started in a work van and spread to the house, causing extensive damage and killing a cat.
Sources said at least one of the men had been interviewed by investigators following the fire.
Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito ruled the blaze an arson, and detectives assisted with investigating the incident.
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Ed Margavich, 80 was on the scene directing traffic as firefighters battled the blaze. He went to the nearby Croydon Fire Company station, fell, and suffered a broken femur. A week later, he succumbed to his injuries and the sepsis that followed.
Margavich’s passing was deemed a line-of-duty death, and a large funeral was held in his honor.
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