4 charged in fire at vacant Pittston apartment.


Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) (Nov 11, 2006)(502 words)  Reading Level 
(Lexile): 1630. 
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COPYRIGHT 2006 The Times Leader 

Byline: Ron Lieback 

Nov. 11--PITTSTON -- An ambulance driver, a former firefighter and two other
men were arrested Friday in connection with a fire at a vacant apartment on
Main Street Nov. 3, police said. 

Edward J. Halat, 22, of 318 Center St., Dupont; Daniel J. Nawrocki, 23, of 
203 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre; and John P. Quinn, 22, of 1106 Main St., Avoca, 
were each charged with four counts of arson, criminal mischief and criminal
conspiracy. Ryan J. McCulloch, 21, of 155 Flag St., Pittston Township, was 
charged with criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy. 

Court papers said Quinn was once a resident in the apartment at 242 S. Main St. 

"They have enough evidence," Pittston Mayor Joseph Keating said. "They'll 
get a conviction on this." 

Nawrocki was arrested in February on charges of stealing nearly $5,000 worth
of equipment from Wyoming Hose Co. 1. Officials said he worked for a private
company that provided emergency medical technician service for the department.
Keating said Halat is currently a driver for the Wyoming Valley Professional
Ambulance. 

According to court papers: 

Authorities said three separate fires were started in the home by human hands.
A plastic Bayo's Ice bag was also found containing ice cubes inside the home. 

Authorities learned that all four suspects were at the A-Plus Mini Market, 
South Main Street, and a bag of Bayo's ice was purchased by one of them just 
hours before the fire was reported. Police also learned that the four were at a
local tavern on Nov. 2 and early Nov. 3. While in the tavern, Quinn and 
Nawrocki spoke about burning Quinn's old house down. 

After entering the home, Quinn set a fire in the kitchen sink while McCulloch
and Nawrocki fueled the fire with alcohol and papers, police said. All four 
suspects then ignited a fire in a tub on the second floor with clothing and other
ignitable materials. The four said that they extinguished the fire because of
heavy smoke in the residence, police said. They left the residence and dropped 
McCulloch off at his home. 

Nawrocki, Quinn and Halat returned to the South Main Street residence and 
intentionally set another fire on the second floor. The home at 242 S. Main St.,
owned by Patrick and Theresa Quinn and DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc., was destroyed
by the fire. The occupied residence next door at 240 S. Main St. sustained
smoke and water damage. A residence at 246 S. Main St. also sustained fire
and smoke damage. 

Halat, McCulloch and Quinn were taken to the Luzerne County Correctional 
Facility for lack of $25,000 straight bail. 

Nawrocki was taken to the prison on a probation detainer. 

A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 20 in Central Court in Wilkes-Barre. 

Copyright (c) 2006, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Times Leader 

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business 

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