Man arrested for Girard home blast

GIRARD — A city man will face several felony charges in connection with the Washington Avenue home that exploded last week.

Donald F. Shelley, 25, of 426 North Ave. has been charged with two counts of felony aggravated arson, felony vandalism and felony breaking and entering. Police determined that Shelley committed a theft leading to the explosion.

“Det. [Greg] Manente, Girard police, along with the State Fire Marshal NE District Arson Bureau and Girard Fire Department obtained information originating from a concerned citizen revealing that the fire/explosion that occurred at 824 Washington Ave. leveling that property and damaging in excess of 50 homes with at least four injuries was the direct result of a theft of copper/scrap from the residence,” police said in a Tuesday press release.

Shelley, the release said, was arrested without incident in Austintown while working on a landscaping job.

For details, see Wednesday's Vindicator or www.vindy.com.