A commercial building on Waite Street in Salem went up in flames at around 2:30 a.m. on November 3, and within days investigators had traced the suspicious fire to a Bridge Street apartment, arresting a 31-year-old man on an arson charge. He was ordered held without bail following a dangerousness hearing last week.
Fire Crews Called to a Working Blaze With an Attached Garage
According to a release from the Salem Police Department, the Salem Fire and Police Departments responded to the reported commercial building fire at 8 Waite Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. that morning. The Salem Fire Department received the call at 2:35 a.m., five minutes after the fire was reported at 2:30 a.m., reporting a working fire at the building, which had an attached garage, as reported by the same account. The property had been listed as the home of Salem Sheet Metal Inc., per Patch.
Fire investigators determined the blaze was suspicious in nature, the police release states, prompting the Salem Fire Department's Fire Investigation Division and the Salem Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division to launch a joint investigation. That inquiry moved quickly: within two days, detectives had identified a target and a location tied to the case.
Search Warrant Leads to Arson Arrest
Members of the Criminal Investigation Division, assisted by the patrol division, executed a search warrant at 60 Bridge Street, Apartment 2, on November 5, the release says. Alex Sverker, 31, was arrested as a result and charged with arson.
Dangerousness Hearing Keeps Sverker Behind Bars
On November 9, a dangerousness hearing was held, and Sverker was ordered held without bail pending further court proceedings, the police release states.
The case echoes another dangerousness hearing playing out in Holyoke, where Western Mass News reported that 43-year-old Angel Sanchez is being held on eight fire-related charges along with an attempted murder charge tied to an alleged tent fire. That outlet reported Sanchez's own dangerousness hearing was pushed to the following Tuesday while prosecutors wait on requested body-camera footage, and that he has pleaded not guilty.
No further details on the cause of the Waite Street fire, the extent of any damage, or a motive have been released. Sverker remains held without bail as the case moves through Salem District Court.
