Fall River man arrested for arson, person of interest in at least 10 more

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Brockton Fire Chief Michael Williams, and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley announced that Mark Sargent, 49, of 173 Mason St Fall River, was arrested on October 4, 2017 for setting fire to 175 East Ashland Street in Brockton early that morning. He is charged with one count of burning a building and malicious damage to property over $250. He was arraigned in Brockton District Court yesterday and held on $250,000 bail. The fire in the single story commercial building, housing Bay State Shredding, was determined to be intentionally set. This investigation was jointly conducted by the Brockton Fire and Police Departments, State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Plymouth District Attorney’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said, “This arrest is a great example of how effective the team concept of fire  investigation is and I want to commend all the fire and police agencies involved.

Sargent is a current person of interest in at least 10 fires in Bristol and Plymouth Counties and served 2 years in prison for setting three fires in 2012 and 2013.