Home
Arsonists strikes again; Barlow held for trial
by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Saturday, 15 March. 2009 1:30 p.m.
Two homes were destroyed in the 200 block of Valley Road today in an early morning fire which arson investigators say was deliberately set. The fire was set less than 24 hours after a Downingtown man was held for trial on charges he set nine fires in Coatesville, including the fire that destroyed 15 homes on Fleetwood Street.
|
Two homes in the 200 block of Valley Road were destroyed by fire early Saturday morning, bringing the number of arson related fires since February 2008 to 67.
|
Authorities said two elderly residents were taken to the Brandywine Hospital. There injuries were reported to be not life-threatening. Firefighters responded to the fire at 1:30 a.m.
Since February 2008 there have been more than 60 fires in the Coatesville area that have been ruled arson. The Chester County Arson Task Force was established this year after.
Coatesville established a State of Emergency following the February arson that destroyed 17 homes on Fleetwood Street, but council allowed it to expire at its March 9 meeting without comment.
Friday, Roger Barlow Jr., 19, of Downingtown was held for trial in county court following a preliminary hearing in West Chester. Barlow is charged with setting nine fires in Coatesville, including the Fleetwood arson which destroyed 15 row homes.
|
An undated photo of Roger Barlow Jr.
|
Barlow reportedly confessed to those fires, but his defense attorney, Terrence Marlowe, claims that confession was obtained under duress following 12 hours of grueling interrogation. But Assistant District Attorney Thomas Ost-Prisco said the confession was consensual.
Barlow, who authorities described as a wannabe firefighter, originally implicated Mark Gilliam, a friend and former classmate, in the fires, but later recanted and said he operated alone. "He was aware someone else was involved then that changed to I was present when the other person was setting the fires. That then changed to I helped set the fires and eventually it became the other person wasn't involved at all it was all me," said Ost-Prisco.
Gilliam is being held in jail on federal arson charges related to the Jan. 26 fire at the Happy Days Family Bistro in Thorndale. That fire took place just a few hours after the Fleetwood Street arson. Gilliam is not charged in connection with any of the fires that Barlow is charged with setting. Barlow is being held in prison in lieu of $9 million bail.
This morning's fire on Valley Road is the second arson since the confinement of both Barlow and Gilliam. On Feb. 22 a 3 a.m. fire destroyed seven school buses parked at the North Brandywine Middle School.
You can e-mail Allen Davis at: allen@chestercountyreporter.com
|