Crime & Safety
Suspicious Death At Worcester Fires: Man Found With Cheese Puffs And Torch Lighters
A man has been arrested for shoplifting after suspicious fires, one which caused a death, erupted in Worcester.
WORCESTER, MA—
On Tuesday, July 25, around 11:45 p.m., Worcester police officers were dispatched to the area of 12 Halmstad, Apt. 1, for a report of a potential house fire in progress. Neighbors smelled smoke in the building and called 911. The Worcester Fire Department arrived, put out the small fire in the living room, and informed police that there was a deceased person in the living room, said police.
Officers found a 55-year-old man face down in the living room in his apartment, his lower body badly bearned and also appeared to have a head injury, said police. The fire appeared to have been confined to the small area near the man, which paramedics pronounced deceased.
Around nine minutes later, someone called police to say a drunk man was stumbling around in traffic on Greenwood Street, which intersects Halmstad Street. At 12:30 a.m., officers located a man at 15 Blackstone River Road who matched that description, identified as Brayan Flores, 28, Vernon Street, Worcester.
Flores appeared to be intoxicated and was behaving strangely, and refusing to listen to officers and keep his hands out of his pockets, said police. He tried to conceal something in his waist, which prompted a pat frisk. They found a bag of cheese puffs and a torch-style lighter on the ground near him.
Officers suspect that the items may have been stolen, and headed to the 7-Eleven. The clerk said that the man had stolen a box of torch lighters and other merchandise. Flores was arrested for shoplifting.
At 12:35 AM, officers received a call for a fire behind 47 Blackstone River Rd. Officers responded and saw that a trailer behind the residence had been set on fire. The Worcester Fire Department was able to put out the fire, but the rear of 47 Blackstone River Road was damaged. A resident of that building said a man had been jiggling the handle and knocking on the door, and appeared to be drunk.
The death at 12 Halmstad Road was referred to the Medical Examiner, who will determine whether it was a homicide. The Worcester Fire Department is investigating the cause and origin of the fires. Detectives have confirmed that Flores knew the victim at 12 Halmstad St, but Flores is not currently charged with any crime in connection with the Halmstad St incident. Mr. Flores is currently charged with Shoplifting and will be arraigned in Worcester District Court.
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