Student Set Fire At Middle School, Charged With Arson: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — A seventh-grade student has been charged with arson in connection with a fire at Washington Middle School in Meriden that sent three school employees to the hospital earlier this week, according to police.

Crews responded around 11:50 a.m. on Monday, May 19 to a report of a fire alarm at Washington Middle School at 1225 North Broad St. An active fire inside the school was then reported, according to Sgt. Michael Boothroyd.

The Meriden Fire Department, Hunters Ambulance, and two school resource officers responded to the school.

Boothroyd said the fire alarm had been pulled and students were evacuated to Falcon Field behind the school.

Firefighters found that paper towels had bet set on fire inside a second-floor girls’ bathroom and extinguished the fire, according to Boothroyd.

“The school had a heavy smoke condition and strong smell of fire requiring ventilation of the affected area to remove the smoke from the building,” Boothroyd wrote in a news release.

Boothroyd said three school employees were taken to MidState Medical Center for evaluation due to smoke exposure. A fourth employee was evaluated at the scene, but declined to be taken to the hospital, according to Boothroyd.

School Resource Officer Corey Sampson was able to view recorded video of the area leading into the bathroom, and also interviewed a witness, according to Boothroyd.

Boothroyd said a seventh-grade student was quickly identified as a suspect. Further investigation led to the student being taken into custody by police, according to Boothroyd.

The student was charged with first-degree arson, reckless burning, first-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree breach of peace.

“An order to detain was applied for and granted by the courts due to the seriousness of the charges,” Boothroyd wrote.

The seventh-grade student was taken to the Hartford Detention center, according to Boothroyd.