Crime & Safety

Man Poured Accelerant In Multi-Family Home: Wallingford Police

The man was arrested after several residents and children were evacuated from the home during the incident, according to police.

WALLINGFORD, CT — A man is accused of pouring an accelerant all over a multi-family home with children inside Sunday night in Wallingford, according to police.

Police responded to the home on East Street around 6:40 p.m. on the report of a gas leak, according to Sgt. Stephen Jaques.

“With the assistance of the Wallingford Fire Department, it was determined that the source of the gas smell was not from a natural gas leak, but was from another source, which required investigation,” Jaques wrote in a news release.

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Jaques said multiple residents and their children were home at the time of the incident and everyone was evacuated.

The Wallingford Police Detective Division and the Connecticut State Police Arson Investigation Unit responded to the scene to assist in the investigation, according to Jaques.

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Police found that the suspect, identified as Lashawn Jackson, allegedly poured liquid that was identified as an accelerant from a gallon container all over sections of the interior, including the common stairwell of the multi-family home, Jaques said.

Jackson, 47, of East Street, was arrested on two counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

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