Vehicle Fire on Shady Acres Road Prompts Arson Charge

A Norwalk man is facing arson and other charges following a fire that destroyed a van on Shady Acres Road last month.

Kevin Grant, 20, was arrested Friday after turning himself in on a warrant. He was charged with third degree arson, third degree criminal mischief, and second degree false statement.

According to Capt. Fred Komm, police and firefighters received a report of a car on fire in the driveway of a Shady Acres Road residence in the early morning hours of Aug. 18.

When first responders arrived on scene, the 2005 Dodge Caravan was "fully engulfed in flames," Komm said, to the point that the vehicle's windows and tires underwent a "series of explosions."

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread beyond the van, Komm said, but not before it melted the dashboard and stripped the paint away from the vehicle's exterior. Investigators later discovered an aerosol can between the front seats that the owner said didn't belong in the van.

Later that morning, police also received a second complaint from the homeowner, who said that the house's mailbox had been damaged in the overnight hours.

According to Komm, Grant was soon "developed as a suspect" in the incident. After initially attempting to implicate another person in the fire, Komm said, Grant eventually admitted to having burned the car and damaged the mailbox.

Grant told investigators that he poured gas into the vehicle and started the blaze using a can of WD-40, Komm said, due to dispute with a resident of the address.

He also admitted to having vandalized the mailbox and turned over the bat used in the act, Komm said.

Grant was released on $5,000 bond and is set to appear in court Sept. 26.