Man Charged With Reckless Burning At Veterans Monuments: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — A man was charged with reckless burning in connection with a fire at the Meriden Veterans Memorial Monuments, according to police.

Police responded to the monuments on Broad Street around 4:05 p.m. on Thursday on the report of a man using a cardboard sign to fan a fire within the light fixture to one of the monuments.

Arriving officers contacted 35-year-old Victor Walsh who was “manipulating a plastic hub cap within the fire at the time,” according to police.

“Mr. Walsh stated he discarded a book in the light fixture and it then caught fire,” police wrote in a news release. “The fire was extinguished by members of the Meriden Fire Department, and the City of Meriden Fire Marshall’s office responded to investigate the cause of the fire. The fire was determined to be ignited by an outside source and not an electrical issue within the lighting fixture. After speaking with Mr. Walsh and with the original caller, it was determined that Mr. Walsh placed the book and a plastic hub cap within the light fixture and ignited the flame.”

Walsh was arrested on charges of reckless burning, second-degree breach of peace and third-degree criminal mischief. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond, according to police.