Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan Announces Charges in Lowell and Malden Arson Fires

WOBURN- Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today that charges have been brought against a Malden man and a Lowell man in separate, and unrelated, arson fires that occurred in those cities this week.
 
"We allege that these defendants by their actions damaged property and displaced families," District Attorney Ryan said.  "More importantly, they put residents, some of them  neighbors, and firefighters who responded at risk of serious injury.  Their behavior, which we allege was intentional, endangered people in their homes and firefighters who put themselves in harm's way to protect us.  We commend the quick and thorough work of the Malden and Lowell police departments and the Massachusetts State Police to identify and apprehend suspects in these matters."
 
Namit Thapa, 28, of Malden, was taken into custody by Malden police yesterday without incident.  He has been charged with arson and disorderly conduct in the burning of his own residence that caused injuries to two firefighters who responded.
 
It is expected that he will be arraigned in Malden District Court on Monday.
 
According to authorities, on May 9, at approximately 5:30am, they received a report of a fire at a multi-unit home located at 63 Converse Avenue.  When officers arrived, they found an active fire scene and numerous residents outside of the building.  Since the defendant was not outside the building with the other residents, firefighters attempted to locate him inside the building, not knowing that he had already left the area.  The 3-alarm fire displaced seven people.  In addition to the Malden Police and Fire Departments, fire companies from Melrose, Everett, Medford, and Saugus responded and assisted.  Two firefighters, one from Malden and one from Saugus, were treated at area hospitals and released.
 
During the course of the investigation into the cause of this fire, a tip to Malden police allegedly led them to investigate and subsequently charge this defendant.
 
On Friday, Andres Ortiz-Arroyo, 24, of Lowell, was arraigned in Lowell District Court on arson charges (two counts) for the burning of a business and a nearby residence in Lowell on May 7.  He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday, May 16. 
 
In that matter, authorities allege that on May 7 at approximately 12:40am, they responded to a business at 604 Central Street for the report of a fire.  When they arrived, they observed an active fire to the left side of the building.  Due to the hour, there was no one inside the building.  Shortly thereafter, at 1:45am, police were then called to a nearby two-family home at 49 Wamesit Street.  When they arrived at that location, they discovered another active fire, with flames beginning to engulf the roof and eave area of the house.  Officers located several residents inside and assisted them out of the home, and one was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Due to the close proximity of the buildings, residents of two adjacent homes had to be evacuated as well.
 
Through their investigation, it is alleged that police learned that this defendant started a fire by lighting trash in the alley between 604 and 602 Central Street, which then spread to the building.  As well, it is alleged that the defendant similarly lit a trash fire in an alley next to the Wamesit Street residence which spread to that home.  The residence fire displaced two families. 
 
These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.