Man Charged with Arson, Risking Catastrophe After Starting Small Fire in Lansdale Rite Aid: Police

North Penn Now Staff•

Michael Delsordo, 29, of the 400 block of North Broad Street.

A Lansdale man is facing felony arson charges after he allegedly set fire to merchandise inside of the Rite Aid Pharmacy at Main and Broad streets in Lansdale Borough.

Michael Delsordo, 29, of the 400 block of North Broad Street, has been charged with two felony counts of arson, along with additional felony counts of reckless burning, attempted reckless burning and risking catastrophe, misdemeanor counts of failure to report a dangerous fire, failure to prevent catastrophe, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, and summary charges of disorderly conduct and dangerous burning, in connection with the Aug. 13 incident.

Police were dispatched to 10 West Main Street at 1:13 p.m. on Aug. 17 regarding video footage of an incident that occurred inside the store several days prior. Upon arrival, police spoke with store personnel, who stated that on Aug. 13, Delsordo allegedly entered the store, spoke to an employee and then went into an aisle and set fire to a piece of merchandise.

According to the criminal complaint, the store employees described Delsordo as being "out of it” and "tweaking” prior to the incident, which they believed was caused by drug use. Investigators said the surveillance video showed Delsordo unsteady on his feet as he entered the aisle containing baby products, where he paused and interacted with a piece of merchandise before exiting the aisle and going elsewhere in the store.

At 5:41 p.m., a small flame was then seen in the video, which spread to some of the surrounding merchandise, the report states. Two employees which were in the next aisle over reported hearing a crackling sound and smelling something burning, at which point one grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the fire before it could spread, the report states.

Store personnel told police that the fire system did not go off, and police were not dispatched because the fire was contained, according to the complaint. Only after reviewing the incident on surveillance did they become aware of Delsordo’s alleged actions, the report states.

Delsordo was arraigned on Aug. 27 by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine, who set bail at 10% of $10,000 cash. Delsordo was then remanded to county jail after failing to post bail. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Levine on Sept. 2 at 1:15 p.m.

(All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.)