UPDATE: Details Emerge in Arson Case Against Ex-UConn Students

Connecticut State Police have arrested one of two former University of Connecticut students who have been identified as suspects in the October torching of three cars at a University of Connecticut off-campus apartment complex and the attempted arson of an apartment in that complex.

Police announced Tuesday they obtained arrest warrants for the two suspects, one of whom admitted to setting the fire, surrendered to state police at Troop C early Tuesday morning.

According to police, David Kuhn, 19, of Sherman, CT, is being held on $500,000 bond set on charges of first-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief, tampering with a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit arson.

In their application for the arrest for Kuhn, and his suspected accomplice who police identified as Logan Rama, state police said the pair apparently acted in retaliation after being kicked out of a party being held Oct. 11 at the Carriage House apartment complex at 5 Carriage House Rd. in Mansfield.

In an email, UConn spokesman Tom Breen said, “Both attended UConn from the fall 2014 semester through the fall 2015 semester, but neither is currently enrolled at the University.” Rama’s hometown was not immediately available.

• To sign up for breaking Mansfield and Storrs news alerts and more, click here.
  

The pair were identified by a number of witnesses as attending the off-campus party and being asked to leave. One of the suspects was heard by the witnesses as saying “It would be a shame if something happened to this place tonight,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit released by police.

In the hours following the fire, police interviewed several witnesses as well as the suspects.

Police said Kuhn denied the statement was made but said the pair left the party when an altercation broke out after he bumped into someone. Both admitted to drinking alcohol while at the party.

According to the arrest affidavit, Kuhn admitted to police that he and Rama “thought it would be a good idea to go back and get some justice.” Kuhn told police that the pair decided to burn the front lawn of the apartment building and took a cleaning bucket to a nearby Cumberland Farms “to get some gas to fill the bucket,” according to the affidavit.

Kuhn told police that “Logan took the bucket of gas and poured it over the cars and also on the grass near the front door of (the) apartment, relatively close to the front door,” according to the court document. Kuhn admitted to police that he “lit the gas to start the fire, lighting it with a lighter” and then the pair returned to their apartment, according to the document.

At least one resident inside the apartment awoke to flames on the door and extinguished it with a pitcher and glass of water while another called 911, according to the affidavit. There were more 911 calls reporting cars on fire after residents heard popping sounds outside the apartment building, prompting a response from the Mansfield Fire Department UConn Police and State Police, according to police statements.

Related story: 3 Cars Torched at UConn Off-Campus Apartment Complex

After obtaining permission from Kuhn and Rama, state police investigators assisted by two police canines trained in accelerant detection searched the pair’s apartment, their vehicles and cellphones. Police said they found evidence of gasoline at the scene as well as in a bucket and clothing inside the off-campus apartment that Kuhn and Rama shared at the Cedar Ridge Townhomes in Willington. Police also said they found clothing matching the description witnesses said the pair was wearing at the off-campus party.

According to the police affidavit, there was $10,059 in damage caused to the Carriage House apartment; $6,700 in damage to a 2008 Jeep Wrangler; $7,000 in damage to a 2008 Honda Civic and $10,200 in damages to a Chevrolet Tracker. No one was injured by the fire.

Kuhn was to appear in state Superior Court in Rockville on Tuesday, according to police.

Police also said they “anticipate at least one other arrest in the case.”

Connecticut State Police photo: David Kuhn.