Man pours fuel on car, sets it on fire at Clifton Heights dealership, police say

While police did not release the motives behind his actions, one Delaware County man is facing felony charges after lighting a car on fire, police said.

Francis Baptiste, 23, of Clifton Heights was arrested without incident by the Clifton Heights Police Department as reported on Friday, Dec. 5 after a strange incident at 1Owner Car Dealership along the 500 block of West Baltimore Avenue within the borough, police said. Emergency crews responded to the vicinity for reports of a vehicle fire.

At the scene, police said that video showed quite clearly what had caused the fire.

“Video of the incident showed Baptiste pour an accelerant on a 2019 Subaru and light it on fire,” said police in a Facebook post Dec. 5. “He then fled the area on foot.”

Police continued the investigation and were able to obtain additional video footage in the direction of Baptiste’s walk. Officers then located Baptiste on Baltimore Avenue “only blocks from the scene shortly after the crime,” said police.

When police located him, Baptiste had in his possession lighters and small engine fuel at the time of his arrest, police said. Baptiste was arraigned before Delaware County District Courts where a monetary bail of $20,000 was set. Baptiste is held in county jail unable to post bail.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Kelly A. Micozzie-Aguirre.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.