READING, Pa. – Reading Police say they’re finding out more about a house fire on North 6th Street.
A man is facing attempted homicide and assault charges, his father and stepmother are in the hospital, and investigators say they’re looking to see if the fire was set intentionally.
Charges have been filed in connection with a fire that police responded to around 8:00 a.m. Monday in the 600 block of North 6th Street in Reading.
“It was discovered that this was a domestic dispute where a son had assaulted his stepmother and father,” said Capt. Christian Rothermel with the Reading Police Department.
According to court paperwork the suspect, 38-year-old Justin Staples, beat his stepmother and father in their bedroom while they were in bed. Authorities say he hit them a number of times in the head, face and body with an unknown object.
Justin StaplesÂ
Berks County Sheriff’s Department
The victims say they had difficulty getting out of the bedroom because the house was on fire. It was later discovered there was a broken lock on the outside of the bedroom door.
“The way we understand it, he [Staples] had showed up the night before,” said Rothermel. “They allowed him to stay and sleep on the sofa and then overnight he had some type of episode that caused him to assault both of his parents.”
Reading police say the suspect was arrested a short time after they arrived by officers in the area of Centre Avenue.
The Reading Fire Marshal’s office is also investigating.
“They’re investigating as an arson investigation,” Rothermel said. “Exploring the possibilities of how it could’ve started, where it started and whether or not he would’ve been responsible for that and then the detectives will determine, based on evidence either circumstantial or direct, whether or not we’re going to have charges.”
Staples is facing attempted murder, aggravated assault and related charges.