BENSALEM, PA - A Michigan man identified by police as Harrison Jones, 21, was taken into police custody and is charged with six counts of attempted homicide after he allegedly drove 700 miles to the home of a man who was in communication with his ex-girlfriend. Jones is believed to have set the home on fire, causing the six inhabitants to flee, jumping from the windows as their pet dogs perished in the flames.
A press release from the Bensalem Police Department described the arson as occurring at approximately 5:00 a.m. on February 10th when most of the home’s inhabitants would’ve been home and asleep. Bensalem police and the fire department responded to the house fire in progress.
The department revealed, “Upon arrival, Emergency Services located six adult residents who had evacuated from the home, some of whom had to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames. 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.”
An investigation began immediately after the fire was extinguished led by Bensalem Fire Rescue and Bensalem Police Detectives. Authorities discovered that the blaze “appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature.”
Investigators obtained neighboring home surveillance footage that captured a black sedan passing the home and later stopping at the intersection nearby. A subject, suspected to be Jones can be seen exiting the vehicle with an unknown object in hand and walking toward the home before the fire ignited. Approximately fifteen minutes later he can be seen running back to the waiting vehicle and fleeing.
The statement from police noted, “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. The only lead in the case was a grainy image of a black sedan from a neighbor's surveillance system.”
Township intersection cameras were utilized by authorities to identify and track the vehicle entering and exiting Bensalem and an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) installed identified it as a 2021 black Volkswagen Passat registered in Michigan to a Mr. Brian Jones of Rockford, Michigan.
A statewide search of ALPR-equipped cameras allowed the investigators to track the vehicle’s 700-mile trek back to Rockford. The department explained that detectives “discovered that a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a female who lived in Michigan and was supposed to come to Bensalem to meet in person for the first time this week.”
The suspect was found to be the ex-boyfriend of the Michigan female in question and lives at the same address of the owner of the Volkswagen.
A search of the vehicle by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office yielded “lock-picking devices, cell phone, and computer,” the suspect was also observed to have burns on his arm when contacted by Sheriff’s deputies.
Bensalem detectives working with the Bucks County District Attorney’s office obtained an arrest warrant and Jones was arrested and charged with six counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide, Arson, Risking Catastrophe, and related offenses.
A press release from the Bensalem Police Department described the arson as occurring at approximately 5:00 a.m. on February 10th when most of the home’s inhabitants would’ve been home and asleep. Bensalem police and the fire department responded to the house fire in progress.
The department revealed, “Upon arrival, Emergency Services located six adult residents who had evacuated from the home, some of whom had to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames. 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.”
An investigation began immediately after the fire was extinguished led by Bensalem Fire Rescue and Bensalem Police Detectives. Authorities discovered that the blaze “appeared to be intentionally set and incendiary in nature.”
ARSON ARREST - 6 COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE - https://t.co/W3eK1XmbjG
— Bensalem Police (@BensalemPolice) February 17, 2025
Investigators obtained neighboring home surveillance footage that captured a black sedan passing the home and later stopping at the intersection nearby. A subject, suspected to be Jones can be seen exiting the vehicle with an unknown object in hand and walking toward the home before the fire ignited. Approximately fifteen minutes later he can be seen running back to the waiting vehicle and fleeing.
The statement from police noted, “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. The only lead in the case was a grainy image of a black sedan from a neighbor's surveillance system.”
Township intersection cameras were utilized by authorities to identify and track the vehicle entering and exiting Bensalem and an intersection with Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) installed identified it as a 2021 black Volkswagen Passat registered in Michigan to a Mr. Brian Jones of Rockford, Michigan.
A statewide search of ALPR-equipped cameras allowed the investigators to track the vehicle’s 700-mile trek back to Rockford. The department explained that detectives “discovered that a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a female who lived in Michigan and was supposed to come to Bensalem to meet in person for the first time this week.”
The suspect was found to be the ex-boyfriend of the Michigan female in question and lives at the same address of the owner of the Volkswagen.
A search of the vehicle by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office yielded “lock-picking devices, cell phone, and computer,” the suspect was also observed to have burns on his arm when contacted by Sheriff’s deputies.
Bensalem detectives working with the Bucks County District Attorney’s office obtained an arrest warrant and Jones was arrested and charged with six counts of Attempted Criminal Homicide, Arson, Risking Catastrophe, and related offenses.
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Comments
2025-02-21T05:51-0500 | Comment by: Rick
Outstanding work by the investigative team. As a career arson/bombing investigator who spent 20 years in this field, I know that solving these crimes can be quite challenging.