SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Springfield Police Department and Detective Bureau arrested 30-year-old Nicholas Denson on April 24 around 4:05 p.m. in connection with an arson and attempted arson.
Earlier that day around 4:35 a.m., officers and firefighters responded to the 200 block of Belmont Avenue for a report of a structure fire.
Springfield Firefighters extinguished the fire on the rear porch.
Members of the Arson & Bomb squad began investigating and located a gasoline can near the fire.
Arson K9 Gregg detected accelerants and/or flammable liquids on the porch.
Around 3:30 p.m., members of the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad consisting of members of the Springfield Police and Fire Departments were at a home on the 0-100 block of Buckingham Street investigating an attempted arson.
A suspect, later identified as Denson, is alleged to have poured gasoline inside a victim’s apartment.
Officers arrived to assist investigators.
Officers and investigators entered the apartment on Buckingham Street and could immediately smell gasoline.
They then observed Denson, who fled out a back door.
Officers located Denson on State Street.
Denson shoved an officer before officers were able to take him into custody.
Denson, who is homeless, is charged with arson of a dwelling/house, breaking and entering into a building – daytime for a felony, attempted arson of a dwelling/house, defacement of property, and assault and battery on a police officer.
