Arrest Made In Portsmouth Middle School Arson Case

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Police in the Port City have made an arrest in an arson case at a local school from late May after receiving assistance from the public and other Seacoast police departments.

Christoph M. Berger, 24, of no fixed address, was arrested Monday on arson, possession of an infernal machine, and burglary, all felonies, as well a breach of bail charge. The arrest of Berger came after 10 days of investigations and incidents leading police to charge Berger.

Back on May 22, police were sent to Congress Street for a criminal mischief call after receiving a report of a man smashing a window at Bennett's Sandwich Shop on Congress Street around 6 p.m. The man left the area in a Ford Ranger truck with Vermont plates.

While investigating that call, police received other calls about a pickup truck driving recklessly. An officer caught up with the pickup on Woodbury Avenue heading to Newington toward the Fox Run Mall. The truck crashed at the mall and the driver fled the scene, according to Portsmouth police. Newington police later found the driver, Berger, in the Macy's parking lot.

Berger was charged by Portsmouth police with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, criminal mischief, disobeying an officer, and misuse or failure to display plates. Newington police charged him with conduct after an accident, resisting arrest, and possession of marijuana. He was released on bail.

About 9 hours later, Portsmouth firefighters and police were sent to the city's middle school on Parrot Avenue for a report of a fire. Investigators quickly learned it was an arson case after finding a propane tank for a gas grill at the scene. The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted with the on-scene investigation, according to Capt. Darrin Sargent of the Portsmouth Police Department.

Police alerted the public about the case and asked any South side city residents to check and see if they were missing a propane tank, had any surveillance video, or saw anything suspicious during the early morning hours before the fire.

"Further follow up by the Portsmouth Police Investigative Division revealed that a male had launched a canoe in the town of Kittery sometime after midnight and paddled to Portsmouth, where he docked on a South End pier," Sargent said. "The male proceeded from there on foot to the middle school carrying a propane bottle and a bucket of a liquid flammable."

Video surveillance at the school caught a suspect, later identified as Berger, "smashing out the front window of the school and placing the propane and bucket inside the lobby before lighting them on fire."

Sargent said the man then fled the area back to the canoe.

Port City police later learned that Hampton police interacted with Berger later that day while he was canoeing in the ocean off the beach. He was also arrested in Rye on criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and breach of bail charges.

Berger will be arraigned in Rockingham County Superior Court Tuesday.

Sargent also stated that police thanked members of the community for assisting with the investigation.

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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