TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. – Stephen Staite, 44, of Leominster, Mass. was taken into custody on

Sept. 23 in connection with an incident involving attempted arson.

According to the Tyngsborough Police Department, officers responded to a residence on Sequoia Drive at 3:38 a.m.

Upon arriving at the scene, police allegedly found Staite in the driveway and in possession of a five-gallon container of gasoline as well as a backpack. A lighter was also reportedly found in the backpack.

According to police, officers had responded to the same residence three days earlier for a similar incident. The preliminary investigation suggested that a vehicle and the side of the home had been doused in gasoline. However, the attempt to start a fire was not successful.

Staite was placed under arrest and charged with attempted arson of a dwelling.

Under Massachusetts law, if convicted, Staite could face up to 10 years in prison.

Staite was arraigned in Lowell District Court and was ordered to be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing the following day. On Sept. 24, the court found him to be dangerous and was ordered to be held without bail until at least January 2025.