Thursday, 4:30 PM
Man pleads not guilty to setting homes ablaze, assaulting firefighters
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
Prosecutors charged a Newbury man today with setting two homes ablaze and then attacking the firefighters who rushed to his Plum Island neighborhood to extinguish the flames.
Jackie Wayne Hutson, 47, pleaded not guilty in Newburyport District Court to one count of burning a dwelling, one count of burning a building, two counts of causing injury to a firefighter, and other charges. He was ordered held by Judge Peter Doyle pending a dangerousness hearing, according to a spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office.
Hutson is accused of lighting a fire in the corner of the basement of 12 Old Point Road, where he lived. State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan also alleged that Hutson set a fire next door near a wood stove on the first floor of 10 Old Point Road, which was unoccupied. The fires displaced three people, including Hutson, and caused an estimated $600,000 in damage.
When firefighters and police arrived on the scene, Hutson was standing outside the burning single family home and "made numerous attempts to impede arriving firefighters from performing their duties" which included attacking them, police said. During Hutson's arrest, one police officer suffered a sprained wrist, police said.
When firefighters were battling flames inside 10 Old Point Road, two of the men fell through the floor. Lieutenant Eric Hanson broke his ankle, and Lieutenant David Foley suffered a minor hip injury. Both firefighters were treated and released at Anna Jacques Hospital, police said.
Old Point Road -- the main street into Plum Island for some residents of Newbury and Newburyport -- was shut down for several hours, forcing officials to set up shuttle service so residents could at least get back into their homes.
Hutson was also charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, and injuring a firefighter.
