Newport Man Accused Of Mansion Arson, Threatening Woman With A Spear

NEWPORT, RI — A Newport man is facing a slew of charges after being accused in a carjacking and of setting fire to a mansion in town very early Wednesday morning, police said in a news release.

Foster Krupa, 25, is accused in the string of crimes that began around 12:14 a.m. in the 500 block of Bellevue Avenue, where police said he used a fishing spear to threaten a woman to get out of her car.

The car was later found unoccupied but heavily damaged on Wickham Road near Brenton Road, according to police.

A struggle ensued while police were bringing Krupta into custody, resulting in minor injuries to two officers, police said.

Meanwhile, the Newport Fire Department responded to a mansion on Ruggles Avenue, where several fires — believed to be arson — were found burning in the basement.

Police later found several other vehicles vandalized on Ruggles Avenue, and linked Krupta to all of those incidents as well as the suspected arson.

Krupa has been charged with robbery, arson, breaking and entering, and two counts of felony assault and larceny over $1,500, all of which are felonies. He was also charged with several misdemeanor charges, including five counts of vandalism, two counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, and duty to stop in an accident involving a motor vehicle.

He was arraigned in Newport District Court Wednesday morning.