Arson In Newton: Coffee Shop Fire Set Intentionally, Man Charged

NEWTON, MA — A Newton businessman was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in connection with intentionally setting fire to a Newton Highlands Coffee shop.

Daniel Kim, 49, of Maynard was formally charged yesterday for setting fire to the Broken Grounds Cafe in August. He ended up getting trapped in the basement of the coffee shop and fire fighters had to save him and evacuated a family including children from an adjacent building, Patch reported at the time.

Kim is charged with one count of arson of a dwelling and two counts of placing a destructive device, the District Attorney announced today.

He was held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Nov. 20.

On August 28, around 12:14 p.m., the Newton Police Department and Fire Department responded to a 911 call placed by the defendant stating that he was trapped by fire in the basement of The Broken Grounds Café on Walnut Street in Newton. Upon arrival authorities found Kim lying on the floor of the basement.

He was transported to an area hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Fire and Explosion Investigative Unit were also called to the scene where they determined that the fire had been deliberately started.

Investigators found makeshift destructive devices in the area of the basement where the fire was started. Authorities also allegedly found a receipt for the purchases for components used to create those destructive devices in the defendant’s car.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the Kim, who owned the coffee shop, was a tenant of the residential and commercial building and that the building’s owner (his father) had ordered the defendant to vacate the premises by the end of August of 2017.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Previously on Patch:

Person Trapped In Newton Basement Fire: Fire Officials

Crepes Anyone? Owner of Broken Grounds Opens CrepeBerry

Brookline Business Owner on Trial for 2013 Arson: Did He Mastermind it?

Photo courtesy Newton Fire Department