Erie police have charged a city businessman with felony arson after accusing him of intentionally setting a fire in his East 38th Street business in February.<\/p>\n
Damber B. Chuwan, 42, was in the Erie County Prison on $5,000 bond April 23 following his arraignment April 22 on two felony counts of arson, as well as felony counts of risking a catastrophe, reckless burning and criminal mischief.<\/p>\n
A lawyer for Chuwan was not listed on his criminal docket sheet April 23.<\/p>\n
Erie police accuse Chuwan of setting a fire on the evening of Feb. 22 in the basement of Asian Clothing and Accessories, 1212 E. 38th St. Other businesses in the plaza were open at the time of the fire, police wrote in Chuwan’s criminal complaint.<\/p>\n
The fire was contained to the basement and damaged the contents of the basement, with smoke damage upstairs, Erie Bureau of Fire Chief Fire Marshal Don Sauer said April 23. A city police detective who investigated the fire and filed the charges said a neighboring restaurant in the same business plaza was closed after the fire and has remained so, although it is expected to reopen soon.<\/p>\n
What led to the charges?<\/p>\n
Police wrote in the affidavit filed with Chuwan’s criminal complaint that, through video, they were able to determine that Chuwan unplugged the cord to a digital video recorder shortly before the fire, then grabbed a lighter from a cabinet. Chuwan plugged the cord back in about 25 minutes later, locked up the store and left, and about three minutes later the east side of the store was filling with smoke, according to information in the affidavit.<\/p>\n
An investigation into the fire’s cause ruled out an electrical issue, and the fire was ruled as incendiary, police wrote in the affidavit.<\/p>\n
More: Erie man who admitted to setting April fire at duplex sent to prison<\/a><\/p>\n When detectives interviewed Chuwan on April 22, he said before closing the shop he went to the basement to check the area and then left, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n Detectives also wrote that the property manager told them Chuwan has been trying to terminate his lease, which was believed to run through 2027, but the property manager told him that to do so the lease would have to be paid in full and he was unable to do that.<\/p>\n Chuwan is tentatively scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing May 8.<\/p>\n Contact Tim Hahn at\u00a0thahn@usatodayco.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n