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Coatesville announces arrest in arson spree
By Kathleen Brady Shea

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A 19-year-old Downingtown man has been arrested and charged with setting nine of the 23 arsons that have terrorized the Coatesville area this year, the Coatesville Arson Task Force announced today.

Roger Leon Barlow Jr., of the 200 block of W. Pennsylvania Avenue, was charged today. Among the fires he is accused of setting is one that destroyed 15 homes Jan. 24 in the 300 block of Fleetwood Street.

The fires he was charged with began on Jan. 2 in the 100 block of N. Fifth Avenue, and ended on Feb. 3 in the 100 block of Chester Avenue.

More details of the arrest will be discussed at a news conference at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 1 City Hall Plaza, Coatesville.

Since Jan. 1, nearly two dozen arsons have occurred in Coatesville and surrounding communities. The task force, a consortium of federal, state, county and local agencies, was formed at Gov. Rendell's urging to focus on ending a crime spree that has terrorized residents.

Coatesville reported 26 arsons in 2008. Three people were charged in connection with at least five of them. And although those defendants remain in custody, the set fires continued.