Police arrest and charge man for allegedly intentionally setting five fires in two hours

Police Chief Edward Walsh reports that the Taunton Police Department has today arrested and charged a man with intentionally setting five fires in the city last week, within the span of approximately two hours.
DEREK Lindsay, 46, of Taunton was charged with:

• Arson of a Dwelling (Three Counts)
• Burning Personal Property (Two Counts)
• Breaking and Entering a Building in the Nighttime for a Felony

Lindsay was arraigned today at Taunton District Court.

The fires were set between approximately 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, and 1:30 a.m. Thursday, June 6. The locations of the fires were:

• Silver City Gas, 69 Weir St.
• Art’s International Bakery II, 210 Weir St.
• 220 Weir St.
• 228 Weir St.
• 29 Leonard Court

All five fires were able to be quickly knocked down and extinguished by the Taunton Fire Department. Due to fire damage to the electrical system at 210 Weir Street, four residents living in two apartments above the bakery were temporarily displaced. No injuries were reported.

Through the subsequent investigation by Taunton Police detectives, it was determined that Lindsay allegedly lit each of the five fires. An arrest warrant was obtained by Taunton Police detectives this morning and at approximately 1 p.m. today, Lindsay was located and placed under arrest near the corner of County and Hart Streets.

“This was great work by our Detective Unit to develop this individual as our suspect and place him under arrest, all within days of the fires,” Chief Walsh said. “I want to commend our detectives for quickly solving this case and I would also like to thank the many members of our business community who willingly shared security surveillance footage that played a major part in our investigation.”

The Taunton Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted in the investigation. The incidents remain under active investigation by the Taunton Police Department.