Man Charged With Setting 9 Fires In Beaver Co. Headed To Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The man accused of setting a string of fires in Beaver County will go to trial.
Zachary Metcalf was arrested last month in connection with more than a dozen fires to vacant properties in Beaver Falls and White Township.
Metcalf faces nine counts of arson, as well as additional charges.
He was in court Friday morning for preliminary hearing, where a judge decided he will go to trial. However, Metcalf's attorney requested the trial be postponed so Metcalf could undergo a mental health evaluation.
"One of our patrol officers noticed the subject walking out of an abandoned building not too far from the fire that took place last night," said Chief Charles Jones, of Beaver Falls Police last month when Metcalf was arrested following one of his alleged fires.
After his arrest last month, police said Metcalf confessed to setting the fires. When asked why, his response was that he was sick and tired of the City of Beaver Falls taking so long to tear down abandoned buildings.
But the Beaver County Assistant District Attorney says there is no defense for arson.
"That's not acceptable behavior," said Assistant DA Frank Martocci, "obviously not acceptable behavior no matter what his motivations were. He put people at risk."
Police did not reveal a motive and said they believed Metcalf acted alone. The fire chief said one of the biggest stresses over the course of the investigation was the question from some residents about whether the arsonist was a firefighter.
"Obviously, our police department had to investigate that. I'm relieved, you can't imagine how relieved I am, that the individual arrested was not part of any fire department, never was," said Chief Mark Stowe, of the Beaver Falls Fire Department.
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