'Jealous' Man Drove 700 Miles To Set Bensalem House On Fire: PD

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A Michigan man has been charged with six counts of attempted homicide after he drove over 700 miles to "intentionally set" a township house on fire due to being jealous over an ex-girlfriend, police said.

Bensalem Police have charged Harrison Jones of Rockford, MI, with six counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide, Arson, Risking Catastrophe, and related offenses after they said he lit a home in the 5200 block of Merganser Way on fire at 5:22 a.m. on Feb. 10.

Police said Jones traveled over 700 miles and 11+ hours each way to allegedly commit the crime in which six adults evacuated from the home, some of whom had to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames

"His ex-girlfriend had an online relationship with a 22-year-old man who resides at the Merganser Way address," Sgt. Glenn Vandegrift said. "We speculate that jealousy was involved."

Police said a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a woman who lived in Michigan and was supposed to come to Bensalem to meet in person for the first time this week.

Fire engulfed the two-story single-family dwelling, which resulted in a total loss. Two dogs perished in the fire, and the six adults were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries, police said.

Bensalem Fire Rescue and Bensalem Police Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire.

Through investigation, it was discovered that the fire appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature.

Nearby home surveillance captured a black sedan as it passed the home on Merganser Way and stopped at the Mallard Drive intersection at 5:01 a.m. Feb. 10.

Police said Jones exited the vehicle with an object and walked toward the home. After approximately 15 minutes, the subject appears to run back to his waiting vehicle and departs the area on Mallard Drive towards Portside Drive.

As the suspect vehicle fled the area, smoke could be seen billowing up from the rear yard of the home, and within 30 seconds, a large explosion was observed, and the house became engulfed in flames, police said.

The only lead in the case was a grainy image of a black sedan from a neighbor's surveillance system. Detectives utilized township intersection cameras to identify and track the vehicle entering and exiting the township.

While in Bensalem, the car passed through an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers installed.

Detectives found that the 2021 black Volkswagen Passat had a Michigan registration and the car was registered to Jones.

Detectives interviewed residents of the home on Merganser Way and then contacted the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan and requested assistance with the investigation.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant for Harrison Jones's residence and seized the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, lock-picking devices, cell phone, and computer.

When the Kent County Sheriff's Office made contact with him, Jones also had what appeared to be burns on his arm. Bensalem Detectives contacted the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and received approval for an arrest warrant for Jones.

The warrant, signed by District Justice Dan Baranoski, charged Jones and the Kent County Sheriff’s Department arrested him. He is awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania.