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Suspect knew of gas, Girard cops say
GIRARD — The gas explosion that leveled a home here last week was likely a surprise to everyone in the area, but police believe the man who caused the explosion after stealing pipes knew gas was filling up in the home.
Donald Shelley, 25, of 426 North Ave., was arraigned in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday on two counts of aggravated arson, felony vandalism and felony breaking and entering. No plea was accepted on the felony charges, and Shelley is due back in court Oct. 1 for a preliminary hearing.
He is being held in Trumbull County Jail on $250,000 bond.
He was arrested Tuesday without incident in Austintown while working on a landscaping job. Police say a tip from a citizen led to an investigation into Shelley, who police believe entered the now-leveled home to steal piping.
Detective Greg Manente said police believe Shelley was aware that the house had been filling up with gas sometime before the house blew up Sept. 18.
“We are speculating that he did this at night and was just pulling down pipes. He may have gotten sick from this. His mom indicated to us that he was complaining of dizziness and headaches and actually missed work on Wednesday because of this,” said Manente.
According to Manente, police can place Shelley at a junkyard selling scrap material at least one day before the house exploding Thursday.
Mayor James Melfi has said the situation could have been much worse and residents are happy that the explosion did not claim any lives.
According to Manente, the explosion endangered the life of Shelley’s brother. Manente said the accused man’s brother was one of the concerned citizens rushing to check on nearby residents and assist in saving people from a building burning after the explosion.
Shelley, Manente said, is currently on probation for a felony theft in Austintown in March 2006. Police still have not closed the case because he may not have acted alone in the most recent pipe theft that led to the explosion.
“We are investigating the possibility that he had an accomplice,” said Manente.
The explosion leveled one house, caused another to burn to the ground and caused damage to more than 50 homes in the area surrounding the blast.
jgoodwin@vindy.com