Bensalem Man Fire-Bombed Ex-Girlfriend's House: Police

BESALEM, PA — A Bensalem man is in jail after a Christmas morning attack in which police say he smashed the window of his ex-girlfriend's home and threw a fire-bomb inside.

Andrew Bailey, 19, of Bensalem, faces a host of criminal charges including felony arson, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering other people, according to magisterial court records. He is being held on a $500,000 bail.

According to Bensalem Police, Bailey's ex-girlfriend, her family and her neighbors in a duplex apartment were inside at about 2:07 a.m. Tuesday. The owner of the property, in the 900 block of Bristol Pike, reported waking up to the sound of smashing glass, according to a police report.

He found a hammer near his smashed front window and, inside the living room, he found a flaming glass jar on the floor. The house filled with smoke and smoke alarms were activated, according to the police report.

The man was able to get the fire bomb out of the house and his neighbor put the fire out, police said.

According to the report, 10 people were inside the duplex at the time. The man told police he saw two men running outside and that he recognized one of them as his daughter's ex-boyfriend, Bailey.

Court records show that Bailey had been scheduled to appear in court next month on charges of strangulation, simple assault and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 15 for a preliminary hearing on the new charges.

Photo courtesy Bucks County District Attorney's office