Police say a city man started a house fire last week by throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the home.
Tyrie Dunn, 36, with a last known address on W. Race St. in Pottsville, has been charged with numerous felonies and is wanted by police for his role in starting the fire that destroyed two homes, one of which was vacant and the other where his son was located, on N. 2nd St. in the city.
Dunn was also recently named in the investigation into the shooting incident at the Saint Clair Walmart in November of last year. He stands accused of jumping another man in an aisle of the store before that man fired a warning shot and caused Dunn to flee.
Last Friday morning, firefighters and police were dispatched to 676-678 N. 2nd St. for a reported house fire. It took about two hours for emergency crews to get the blaze under control.
An investigation into the cause of the fire was launched immediately and included police from Pottsville, Pennsylvania State Police, Reading Police Dept.’s bomb squad and agents from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Through their investigation, police believe Dunn threw two Molotov cocktails in the direction of 678 N. 2nd St., which housed four people and a cat. One of the incendiary devices landed near the front door while the second hit a wire and landed in the street.
One of the occupants inside the home was Dunn’s son, who suffered broken bones and minor burns after jumping from a second-story window while the house was becoming engulfed in flames. Another person inside the building also suffered injuries in the blaze, police say.
An orange tabby cat named Poppy suffered second- and third-degree burns in the fire, police say.
The duplex building also included 676 N. 2nd St., which was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Key pieces of evidence in the police investigation that led them to Dunn were a pair of Starbucks Frappuccino bottles found at the scene. Police say these bottles were used to create the Molotov cocktails and were collected as evidence from the scene.
Earlier that morning, police say they viewed surveillance footage from the Sheetz in Pottsville. That video allegedly shows Dunn walking out of the store with two Starbucks Frappuccino, one of which he paid for and the other other he stole by stuffing it in his pants.
Later, video captured near the scene of the fire showed a man getting out of a vehicle and stretching shortly before the incident began. That vehicle had been parked in the 800 block of N. 2nd St. more than two hours that morning. Eventually, the vehicle pulls away and drives toward the 600 block of N. 2nd St. Someone, believed to be Dunn, gets out of the vehicle and throws a pair of Molotov cocktails toward 678 N. 2nd St.
As the investigation continued, police say they obtained text messages sent by Dunn which indicated that he believed his son and the other person injured in the fire had stolen money from him.
Dunn is facing numerous charges in connection with this incident, including several first-degree felonies: aggravated arson, two counts of arson, causing a catastrophe, and two counts of aggravated assault.
Felony charges of possessing explosive and incendiary materials, arson to an unoccupied building, recklessly burning or exploding property with damages in excess of $5,000, risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, four counts of terroristic threats, and aggravated cruelty to animals have also been filed against Dunn.
Dunn’s also been charged with numerous misdemeanors including simple assault, reckless endangerment, propulsion of missiles onto roadways, cruelty to animals, owning incendiary devices, possessing an instrument of crimes.
Summary offenses for retail theft and scattering rubbish have also been filed against Dunn.
Magisterial District Judge James Reiley signed an arrest warrant for Dunn on Monday.
NOTE: Dunn has several spellings of his first name on file in local District Courts. The Canary confirmed that key indicators (DOB, FBI number, LKA) connect him in this case with the same person in the Walmart incident, in which court documents list his first name as Tyre.
RELATED:
- Fire Severely Damages Two Homes in Pottsville, Four Displaced
- Charges Filed in Connection with Saint Clair Walmart Shooting Incident
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...