SANDY TOWNSHIP – A 23-year-old Sandy Township man, Brady Dillon Michael Burkett, has been accused of being a “serial arsonist.”
According to Ridgway-based state police, Burkett is responsible for setting several fires in a residential section of the township. The fires occurred between Feb. 16 and Wednesday within close proximity along Time to Bid, Judge and Phillips Creek roads.
A joint investigative team was established and consisted of the Sandy Township police, state police fire marshal unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Sandy Township Fire Department and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s office.
State police say Burkett targeted vacant or unattended properties, including five mobile homes and one shed. The most recent fire occurred Wednesday night and destroyed a vacant mobile home at 31 Time to Bid Rd.
According to state police, a Caucasian male, Burkett, was seen outside the mobile home minutes before the fire. Officers located him, conducted interviews and searched his residence.
State police say, “Evidence was recovered from the scene, along with his residence, linking him to the crime spree.”
Burkett was interviewed at the Sandy Township police station and allegedly confessed to setting all the neighborhood fires that had occurred since Feb. 16.
He was subsequently arrested for arson and related offenses for the fire at 31 Time to Bid Rd. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris and lodged in county jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Additional arson-related charges are pending against Burkett for fires that occurred:
- 16, wooden-framed shed and occupied mobile home, 27 Time to Bid Rd.
- 16, vacant mobile home, 19 Time to Bid Rd.
- March 30, vacant mobile home, 19 Time to Bid Rd. It was previously damaged Feb. 16.
- April 11, vacant mobile home, 19 Time to Bid Rd. It was previously damaged Feb. 16 and March 30.
- April 18, vacant mobile home, 120 Judge Rd.
- May 1, vacant mobile home, 27 Phillips Creek Rd.
State police didn’t report any injuries but noted one fire engine was damaged while firefighters were fighting the fire May 30. A damage estimate is not yet available.
The investigation is continuing at this time with additional arrests possible. State police request that residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to their local police department.