WILKINSBURG, Pa. — An arrest warrant has been issued for a man accused of arson in connection with a fire in Wilkinsburg.
Pittsburgh Police said Jacob Aaron Cooper, 22, is charged with aggravated arson, three counts of felony arson, causing or risking catastrophe, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering another person.
Detectives were requested around 4:41 a.m. on Monday to an apartment at 301 Wood Street to investigate a fire that had been extinguished by a sprinkler in the room.
Officials found that the left side of a couch, as well as a pair of tennis shoes and the rear wheel of a bicycle, were on fire. According to a criminal complaint, it was determined that the couch was intentionally set on fire and then spread.
Police said the property’s operations manager told police she gave Cooper a 30-day eviction notice last month because he caused damage to the apartment, and that he had a court hearing on Tuesday for the eviction.
No one who lives inside the apartment building was injured, but some of the businesses sustained moderate water damage from the sprinkler.
Anyone with information is asked to call Fire Investigations at (412) 782-7646.
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