Police arrest man after series of suspicious fires in Attleboro including LaSalette Shrine

A Bristol County man was arrested over the weekend after a series of fires.

According to police, on Wednesday, the Attleboro Police Department was alerted to a series of suspicious brush fires occurring throughout the city the prior day on Tuesday. 

Attleboro Fire Department personnel determined brush fires at the Attleboro Elks Lodge at 887 South Main Street, the Manchester Reservoir on Beagle Club Road, the Attleboro Wastwater Department at 27 Pond Street North and Attleboro Animal Shelter at 102 Pond Street North were suspicious and were believed to have been intentionally set.     

Attleboro Police Detectives conducted an intense and extensive investigation, which included the collection of video surveillance, ultimately resulting in the arrest of 72-year-old Gerard Genest of South Attleboro.

Genest was taken into custody, without incident, during a traffic stop on Saturday at 5:10 p.m. pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the Attleboro District Court for charges related to the suspicious brush fires. 

At the time of his arrest, Genest was under investigation by Attleboro Police Detectives for additional fires including one set at the LaSalette Shrine on Park St. on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Genest is scheduled for arraignment at Attleboro District Court on Monday.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation by Attleboro Police Detectives.