Police arrest suspect in Germantown arsons, investigation continues

Police announced Wednesday night that a 24-year-old North Philadelphia man has been arrested and charged in connection with two recent fires on East Coulter Street.

However, charges do not yet include Sunday night’s blaze that saw a family rescued from a back porch.

Leonard Monroe, of the 2100 block of W. Clearfield St., was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated assault, arson, stalking and related charges, according to police.

Charges stem from incidents that occurred on Nov. 9 and Dec. 1 in the unit block of E. Coulter St.

In the first case, a Molotov cocktail was placed between a home’s rear storm and inner doors and lit. Minor damages and no injuries or evacuations were reported when the device put itself out.

The second case involved two incendiary devices that had been ignited near the front door. A resident extinguished the fire and there were no injuries.

The investigation continues into a similar incident Sunday morning at the neighboring home.

According to Officer Tanya Little, a department spokeswoman, that fire “remains under investigation for possible links to this arrest.”