Man arrested in Taunton bakery fire
By Globe Staff
A 43-year-old Taunton man is being charged with setting an August fire that burned down a bakery on Washington Street in Taunton, throwing more than a dozen people out of work.
Manuel M. Arruda is to be arraigned today in Taunton District Court on charges of burning of a building, breaking and entering in the nighttime, and larceny over $250, the state fire marshal and the city police and fire chiefs said in a joint statement.
Investigators believe that Arruda broke into Art's International Bakery, stole money, and then started the fire to cover the crime.
"Arson is not a victimless crime. In this case it affected the owners of the business and building, employees, the bakery's customers, and everyone who lives in the neighborhood," State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said in the statement.
About 15 people lost their jobs because of the fire, a fire marshal's spokeswoman said.
Fire Chief Leman W. Padelford said arson fires are more dangerous to firefighters because they are often further along when they're discovered. He said it was fortunate no firefighters were injured in the blaze.
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