Reading police arrested a 32-year-old man after he admitted he was part of a group that set two cars ablaze in the Riverloft Apartments parking lot in December.
Josue Negron-Lebron, 32, no permanent address, faces charges of arson, risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief in the Dec. 3 incidents in the 500 block of Pearl Street.
He was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $110,000 bail following arraignment Tuesday night before District Judge Brian K. Strand in Reading Central Court.
In requesting a high bail amount at the arraignment, Criminal Investigator Bradley Silcox cited an ongoing investigation of a second arson and concern that Negron-Lebron could flee to Puerto Rico, where he has relatives, when he heals from injuries suffered in a recent shooting.
Details about the other fire and how Negron-Lebron was shot were unavailable.
At the time of his arrest, Negron was wanted on a burglary charge from city police. Court records indicate that crime occurred Jan. 27.
Additionally, Caernarvon Township police charged him by summons on Jan. 16 with retail theft, criminal mischief and open lewdness.
Details of those cases were unavailable.
Investigators provided this account in the probable cause for the arson case:
Just after midnight on Dec. 3, Reading police and firefighters were dispatched to the Riverloft apartments at 550 Pearl St. for a vehicle fire. Members of the fire department extinguished the flames, which consumed two unoccupied vehicles, before police officers arrived.
Firefighters said they smelled a strong odor of gasoline from both vehicles and requested the city fire marshal’s office investigate the cause and origin of the fire.
Fire investigators sent three pieces of fire debris to a state police crime lab for examination. The lab later reported that two of the items contained gasoline.
The fire marshal’s office determined the fire was set.
Video footage from the apartments showed two suspects approaching the vehicles from Pearl Street. One is seen carrying a gallon-sized plastic jug.
While they are near the vehicle, a flash occurs. Both suspects run from the vehicles, which are on fire, to an alley between Pearl and South Sixth streets, and disappear from the view of the camera.
During the investigation, police learned Negon-Lebron had purchased gasoline, using a gallon container, at a nearby gas station.
Video footage confirmed Negon-Lebron drove his pickup truck to the station and entered the store about 25 minutes before the fire.
Silcox interviewed Negron-Lebron on Tuesday in City Hall.
After being shown a still image from the gas station video, Negron-Lebron admitted he was part of the group that went to the Riverloft apartments and set a car on fire.
He said gas was poured on the car, and he used a butane lighter to ignite it.