Argument Leads to Son Trying to Torch Mom's House: Cops

A local man was arrested earlier this afternoon after allegedly trying to set fire to his mother’s home.

Justin Kane, 27, of Salem, was arrested on Dec. 13, 2015, and charged with arson and reckless conduct.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Salem Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

Salem Fire and Rescue teams, according to alerts, were sent to 417 N. Main St. at around 3 p.m. for a report of a porch fire. On their way to the fire, firefighters advised police dispatch that the blaze was allegedly started by Kane, the son of the homeowner.

Police learned from the homeowner that she and Kane were involved in an argument and he allegedly “doused the rear deck of the house with gasoline and lit it on fire,” according to a report. She stated she was standing at the sliding glass door leading to the deck when this took place, according to Sgt. Chad Clark of the Salem Police Department.

“After Kane started the fire, he fled the residence on foot,” he alleged.

Police set up a perimeter and surrounded the area while K-9 units from the town and state police as well as the NHSP helicopter assisted in tracking down the suspect.

“Salem Police were able to track the suspect’s movements through his cellular phone and contained him to the area of Route 111/Ermer Road in Salem and Route 111 and Goodhue Road in Derry,” Clark noted. “Derry Police and Atkinson Police also set up a perimeter in their towns.”

During the search, police learned that Kane was reportedly picked up and taken to his father’s home in another part of Salem. When they arrived there, officers found out that he was inside and Kane was arrested while trying to leave the home in a motor vehicle. He was held and will be in court tomorrow.

The incident remains under investigation by the Salem Police. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to call Officer Brian Routhier at 603-893-1911.

Kane was arrested in 2013 for allegedly pulling out a gun during a fight outside of a nightclub in Manchester, according to Salem NH Patch.