Cans at Fire Scene Linked to Defendant, Report Says

Aerosol cans of brake parts cleaner found in Charles Conti’s vehicle and home matched those found at a fire scene in Worcester yesterday, according to court documents.

Conti, 63, of 7 Airport Rd., Grafton, was charged yesterday with malicious destruction of property valued over $250 and two counts of burning a motor vehicle. The charges were filed in connection with a fire early yesterday at A. F. Amorello & Sons construction company at 115 Southwest Cutoff.

Police searching his vehicle and home found cans of Wearever Brake Parts cleaner, both used and unused, court documents said. Several cans of charred and exploded cans at the fire scene had identical labels to those found in his vehicle and home, according to the court documents.

Prior to the fire, State Troopers in unmarked vehicles had been following Conti’s 1979 Chevrolet van through Grafton, Millbury and Worcester, documents said. As they followed, they saw his van go to the rear of the building at 115 Southwest Cutoff, the court documents said. Moments later, the vehicle sped off with no headlights, documents said.

Police lost sight of the vehicle, which was soon located at the driveway of his home at 7 Airport Road, documents said. Police then obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and home and found the aerosol cans, the documents said.

Small pieces of paper, such as mail, flyers and circulars, were found in his room, court documents said.

As the search was being done, the State Police got word of a fire to two trucks shortly after midnight at the 115 Southwest Cutoff location, court documents said. More than $250 worth of damage was reported to the contents of one of the trucks.

Conti was arraigned yesterday and held on $100,000 bail. One reason for the bail request was his record of convictions, according to court documents.

He has been involved in 67 court cases dating back to 1967, according to court documents. Not all of the cases resulted in convictions.

Charges through the years included burning, malicious destruction of property, resisting arrest and failure to obey a police officer, according to the documents.

The assisted in the arrest, Police Chief Normand A. Crepeau Jr. said.