TYNGSBOROUGH — A Leominster man has been arrested and charged with attempted arson after being caught with a container of gasoline and a lighter near a Tyngsborough home, according to Police Chief Richard Howe.
Stephen Staite, 44, was taken into custody early Monday morning after police responded to a call about a suspicious male on Sequoia Drive at approximately 3:38 a.m. Officers discovered Staite with a five-gallon container of gasoline and a backpack that contained a lighter.
This incident followed a report from Friday, where authorities investigated an attempted arson at the same residence.
Someone had poured gasoline on a car and the side of the home but failed to ignite a fire.
After further investigation at the scene, Staite was arrested and charged with attempted arson of a dwelling.
He was arraigned later Monday at Lowell District Court and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing the following day.
On Tuesday, Staite was deemed dangerous and ordered to remain in custody without bail until at least January.
