Two men charged in Beaver Falls car fire

Beaver County Times (PA)

March 29--BEAVER FALLS -- Two men have been charged with lighting a car on fire in an attempt to destroy it, prompting a response by area firefighters, police said.

According to a police report, officers and firefighters were called at about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of 11th Street and Fifth Avenue in Beaver Falls for a report of a car on fire. Police said responders from the Beaver Falls Fire Department extinguished flames from under the hood of a black Chevrolet Cruze parked in a lot behind 1100 Sixth Ave.

A witness told police she saw two men run from the area just prior to her noticing smoke coming from the car, police said.

According to the report, the car was registered to a man in the Wampum area, but paperwork found inside indicated Brandon Broomfield, 24, of White Township and Jason F. Reid, 38, of Ellwood City had some connection to the vehicle.

Police said Broomfield approached the scene and told officers he was the owner of the car. He reported he had "been having issues with the vehicle smoking," police said. According to the report, he said he and Reid had parked the car and then when to his father's apartment on Sixth Avenue to use the bathroom. Reid later made contact with police, as well.

Police said Beaver Falls Fire Chief Mark Stowe told investigators "something did not seem right about the situation." Stowe said the fire was burning with a blue flame, which indicated an accelerant could have been used to start the fire.

Additionally, the fire in the car originated near the battery, not the fuel supply, according to the report.

Police said the fire department's accelerant-sniffing dog, Patty, was called in to assist in the investigation. The dog indicated accelerant on Reid's shoes, police said.

According to the report, Reid told officers he and Broomfield conspired to burn the car. They made two attempts at starting the fire earlier that day, once near the YMCA in Rochester Township and later at a car wash on Ross Hill Road in Patterson Township.

Reid said they were successful in starting the fire when they got to Beaver Falls, police said. Reid told officers he told Broomfield where to dump the accelerant. Police said Reid reported Broomfield lit a match and then closed the hood of the car before they both ran off.

Broomfield reported Reid poured the accelerant and lit the match, police said.

Reid, of 216 1/2 Second St., Apartment 5, and Broomfield, of 55 Colonial Oaks, Apartment 55, are charged by Beaver Falls police with arson, arson with the intent to collect insurance, reckless burning, criminal mischief and conspiracy.

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