Man will stand trial on charges he torched home over $200 drug debt

By JUSTIN VELLUCCI
TribLive

A man set fire to a McKeesport home in September after a couple who had lived there failed to pay him $200 for heroin, police said.

After a preliminary hearing Monday, Arthur Franklin, 32, heads to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court for trial.

Video footage showed Franklin walking toward 622 White St. around 4:30 a.m. Sept. 3, according to a criminal complaint.

Franklin walked off camera to the side of the house and returned holding what appeared to be a metal gasoline can, police said the video showed. He repeatedly approached the house and sparked a lighter against it, the complaint said.

Less than 30 minutes later, McKeesport firefighters were dispatched and found “heavy smoke and flames” pouring from the home, the complaint said.

After they put out the fire, officials said the home sustained heavy fire and smoke damage. No one was injured.

Firefighters found a metal can of gasoline near the side of the home, the complaint said.

The homeowners, who escaped the blaze with their pets, said they had recently evicted a couple for “using illegal narcotics,” the complaint said.

That couple later told police they owed Franklin, who they knew as “Red,” $200 for drugs.

McKeesport police arrested Franklin Oct. 9 on 14 criminal charges, including aggravated arson and attempted homicide.

He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and arraigned. A judge denied him bail.

Prosecutors Monday withdrew the four attempted homicide charges, court records show. The rest, including felony counts of risking catastrophe and endangering property, head to Common Pleas court.

Franklin, whose address is not listed in court records, has a county public defender.

The public defender’s office declined comment Monday.