MADISON, Maine — Two brothers from Waterville were arrested Tuesday and charged with arson for starting a car fire that nearly spread to a three-unit apartment building, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Wednesday.
The state fire marshal’s office said Zachary Casey, 22, and Alexis Casey, 25, were charged for setting a car on fire in Madison four months ago. The brothers were taken into custody at their Hathaway Street apartment late Tuesday afternoon and both were brought to the Somerset County Jail.
Fire Investigator Jeremy Damren said the two set fire to a car parked beside an apartment house on Middle Street in Madison in the early morning hours of June 9. The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, owned by Sara Cookson, was destroyed. Madison firefighters stopped the fire from spreading to the three-unit apartment house, where all of the occupants were asleep inside. Damren said the brothers broke out a window to the car and threw a Molotov cocktail inside. The car was parked in the driveway, 5 feet away from the building.
Fire marshals, along with Somerset County sheriff’s deputies, investigated the fire. Damren said there was a grudge between the brothers and the boyfriend of Cookson that led them to set fire to her car.