State police have charged a Hanover Twp. man with setting a series of car fires throughout Luzerne County on Friday and Saturday.
Ryan P. Wilk, 36, faces nine felony counts of arson and reckless burning, as well as nine misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief in connection with the fires at auto dealerships, other businesses and private residences.
Police took Wilk into custody during a traffic stop on the Carey Avenue Bridge in Hanover Twp. on Saturday night, according to a news release issued by state police.
Following an interview at the state police station in Wyoming, Wilk was charged and taken to Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
He was arraigned Sunday morning and remains in jail without bail, as Magisterial District Judge David Barilla determined Wilk is a danger to society and himself. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27.
According to police, Wilk was responsible for setting fire to vehicles at four locations within 75 minutes on Friday night and four more locations within 31 minutes on Saturday night.
The Friday fires — between 6:25 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. — were at J.D. Byrider and Hanover Motor Sales on the Sans Souci Parkway in Hanover Twp., Auto Exchange on U.S. Route 11 in Plymouth Twp., and West Main Street in Plymouth Twp. Two vehicles were set on fire at J.D. Byrider, according to police.
The Saturday fires — between 8:30 p.m. and 9:01 p.m. — were at Barber Ford on Wyoming Avenue in Exeter, Eastern Auto on Narrows Road in Larksville, Pierce Street Drug on Pierce Street in Kingston, and Payne Avenue at Main Street in Edwardsville.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including state police and Hanover Twp. police, investigated the rash of car fires.
Wilk has no prior criminal history in Pennsylvania apart from traffic offenses, according to court records.
Contact the writer:
emark@citizensvoice.com
570-821-2117