An Akron man is in custody after police said the disgruntled ex-employee attempted to set fire to an East Hempfield Township business and damaged multiple vehicles last week.
John D. Hays, 36, was charged with five counts of arson, three counts of risking catastrophe and defiant trespass, one count of burglary and causing catastrophe and two counts each of possession of an instrument of a crime and criminal mischief for the incident at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing & Heating in the 400 block and 500 block of Running Pump Road on March 8.
According to East Hempfield Township Police:
Officers were dispatched around 6:45 a.m. to the business for the report of a fire and damage to multiple vehicles that happened on the property during the overnight hours.
Investigators found five vehicles with tires punctured with a “sharp bladed object” at 516 Running Pump Rd.
Police also observed an attempt to ignite a piece of cardboard in between two 100-gallon propane tanks on the side of the building.
The suspect had also gone to the businesses’ second location at 464 Running Pump Rd. where five additional vehicles had been damaged. Investigators also found that the suspect broke out a window in the building and started a large piece of cardboard on fire, placing it through the broken window. Flammable liquid was also placed on plastic curtains and started on fire inside the building.
A total of 25 tires were damaged on the 10 vehicles at the business, causing about $6,250 in damage and $5,000 in towing fees.
Investigators were able to access surveillance footage at the business. An employee identified Hays as the suspect in the video puncturing the vehicle tires.
Hays was a former employee at Benjamin Franklin who was terminated on March 6. Management of the company said the “termination didn’t go well.”
Hays was taken into custody around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday on an outstanding warrant at his home in Akron by West Earl Township Police.
The incident is still under investigation by East Hempfield Twp. Police and the State Police Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal determined the fires were started by a person.
A damage estimate for the fires was set at $80,000.
Hays was arraigned Thursday afternoon before District Judge Brian E. Chudzik. He was transported to Lancaster County Prison on $400,000 bail.
[This story has been updated.]
Staff writer Michael Yoder is an award-winning journalist who has been honored with several Keystone Press Awards for his investigative pieces.
