A 44-year-old West Hartford man was arrested by Connecticut State Police following an investigation into a suspected arsom fire at the Sigourney Street CTfastrak station in Hartford.

Aftermath of arson fire at Sigourney Street CTfastrak station. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police

By Ronni Newton

A West Hartford man has been arrested in connection with setting a bench on fire inside the vestibule area of the Sigourney Street CTfastrak station in Hartford over the weekend that resulted in an estimated $13,000 in damages.

Connecticut State Police said Troop H–Hartford personnel were among those who responded to the Sigourney Street CTfastrak station at 5:25 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, where a fire was reported, and observed heavy black smoke and a wooden bench in the vestibule actively smoldering, police said in a news release on Monday.

Troopers began an investigation once the fire was safely out, and said they spoke to several bystanders about the incident. Troopers said the behavior of one individual spotted at the scene stood out because he seemed to spend more time than anyone else did observing the damage at the station.

Aaron Davis. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police

Throughout Saturday the investigation continued, and included review of surveillance footage from the CTfastrak station around the time of the incident. Police said investigators located a suspect whose image was captured on camera, and who appeared to be the man they had seen observing the fire damage.

That same man was then observed by surveillance cameras early Sunday morning at the Kane Street CTfastrak station in Hartford. Troopers responded to the station and and at 12:21 a.m. detained the suspect, identified as Aaron Davis, 44, of West Hartford.

Davis, who was arrested without incident, was in possession of two butane torches and later admitted to starting the fire at the Sigourney Street station.

He was transported to Troop H, and charged with third-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief.

Davis was held on $50,000 cash/surety bond and due in Hartford Superior Court on Monday.

Aftermath of arson fire at Sigourney Street CTfastrak station. Courtesy of Connecticut State Police

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