Man Charged With Arson In Groton: Police

GROTON, CT — A man was charged with arson after setting an apartment on fire, according to City of Groton police.

Police responded to a call reporting a fire at a Thames Street apartment Monday at 12:48 a.m.

Officers arrived and detected the odor of smoke in the air and saw a man outside the building identified as John Barbour, 53.

Police spoke with Barbour who told them he set a carpet on fire inside his apartment using gasoline, according to a police statement.

A woman was found to be home in a separate apartment at the time the fire started, police said.

Barbour was charged with first-degree arson, criminal damage of a landlord's property, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Barbour had a previous conviction in 2016 in Norwich for second-degree arson, police said.

He was held on $250,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court monday.