A 26-year-old Lowell man was arraigned on arson charges last week, a little more two weeks after Haverhill firefighters extinguished a small fire at a Hilldale Avenue duplex home.
Troy Maloney, 482 Fletcher St., Lowell, returns to district court Wednesday, April 12, for a dangerousness hearing, Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, told WHAV Friday. Maloney is accused of trying to burn the two-family home at 493 Hilldale Ave., Saturday, March 18, just before 4:30 in the morning.
“The men and women of the Haverhill Police Department did an outstanding job of collecting the necessary facts and evidence so that the suspect could be identified and apprehended within the same day as the crime,” said Detective Lt. Robert P. Pistone, police spokesman.
Fire Chief William F. Laliberty previously told WHAV the damage was “minimal,” but an investigation was focused on Maloney’s intent.
Pistone thanked the state Fire Marshal’s office, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Haverhill Fire Department arson investigators, New York State Police and Hampton, N.H., police. Maloney reportedly spent time with his girlfriend in Hampton, N.H.
Maloney was traced to Binghamton, N.Y., where he was arrested there by local police and held for an extradition hearing at Broome County Jail.
Haverhill police traveled Wednesday to Binghamton to pick up Maloney and return him to Massachusetts, said Jennifer Mieth, public information officer for state Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. Maloney, charged with arson of a dwelling—a felony, is being held by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.
The Hilldale Avenue home is believed to be the residence of Maloney’s girlfriend’s ex- boyfriend.