DETROIT – Detroit officials announced Thursday that a suspected serial arsonist has been arrested in connection to multiple fires in northeast Detroit.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Marzein Porter, 40, has been charged with three counts of second-degree arson and three counts of third-degree arson.
Officials said Porter might be tied to more than 20 fires in the Detroit neighborhood, which is bound by 8 Mile and 7 Mile roads and Gratiot Avenue and Hoover Street.
"We noticed a pattern," Jones said. "The first people to notice are the firefighters who are out on the streets. They notice it. Analysts notice, from reading and analyzing the reports."
Jones said the fires were set at both vacant and occupied homes.
"There are six charges now, and there may be more to come," Craig said. "But that's not our decision. It's up to the prosecutor."
Detroit Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said Porter has been arraigned on the six counts of arson, and a trial is yet to come.
"He lived right in the center of our arson pattern," Jones said. "Now, we have a dangerous suspect in custody."
Jones said the arrest is the result of a collaboration between firefighters, police officers and the community.
Porter is being held on $50,000 bail, Craig said. He doesn't have a history of arrests for arson or violent crimes.
The investigation is continuing, but Craig said police believe they have the right person in custody.
You can watch the full press conference in the video posted below: