An 18-year-old Brockton man was found at the scene of a breaking and entering on Saturday. Police connected him to an arson at the same property last week.
BROCKTON – A breaking and entering call on Saturday morning led Brockton police to a man suspected for committing an arson at the same property earlier during the week.
Admilson Semedo, 18, of Brockton, was arrested on Saturday morning after police responded to 124 Menlo St. for a report that someone was trying to break into the multi-family home. He was charged with arson of a dwelling and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to a fire discovered in the front of the building on Oct. 26.
“Patrol officers were alerted to the Menlo Street address shortly before 9 a.m. on Saturday for a report that someone was trying to break in,” said Brockton police spokesperson Darren Duarte, in a summary of the arrest. “When police arrived, they searched the area and found Admilson Semedo, who allegedly set a fire outside of the home on Oct. 26.”
Brockton police said they received multiple reports from the 124 Menlo St. building on Oct. 26, when Semedo allegedly caused a disturbance there first at 4:21 a.m. Police responded, resolved the situation and left the scene, only to be dispatched there again two hours later, when police were told the 18-year-old was back and trying to get inside the house and had set the house on fire because he was “trying to kill everyone inside.”
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Police and firefighters found a small fire at the scene, with a burnt pile of clothing in front of the property, along with what investigators believe was an accelerant used to fuel the flames. Firefighters said they checked the rest of the house and noticed the scent of lacquer in a back hallway. Police investigators found a can of fluid in a nearby trash can, the fire department said, and a one-gallon can of Cuprinol wood preservative was visible on the front steps, being examined by investigators.
“The state police were called in and an accelerant K9 hit on many spots around the house where we believe the accelerant was poured,” said Brockton Deputy Fire Chief Eddie Williams, shortly after the first first took place.
Semedo is expected to appear before a judge at Brockton District Court this week for an arraignment, to decide if he may be held in jail or released with or without bail, after being formally charged with arson of a dwelling and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Staff writer Marc Larocque can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Enterprise_Marc.
