Homeless man charged in Upper Darby store fire

A 54-year-old homeless man has been arrested in connection with a four-alarm fire that heavily damaged four businesses in a 69th Street strip mall, Upper Darby police said Thursday.

James Morris, who police believe was on the second floor of the building housing the Payless shoe store, where the fire started, was charged Tuesday with criminal trespassing and theft.

Police do not believe the fire was set intentionally, Michael Chitwood, the Upper Darby police superintendent, said at a news conference. The township's fire department is investigating the cause.

In the moments before the blaze ignited Monday at 5:30 p.m., Morris was seen drinking alcohol and throwing scrap metal from the second floor of the building to another man at street level, according to the affidavit of probable cause. It said he was providing the scrap in exchange for beer and vodka.

While police said Morris was alone when the fire began, the space typically is occupied by three or four homeless people.

Mayor Thomas Micozzie said he believes homeless people are occupying other unused second-floor spaces along the strip and has ordered an investigation.

Payless does not own the property, and the second floor is accessible only from a fire escape in an alleyway, officials said.

"We have the sole person who knows what happened," Chitwood said. "Now, the major piece of the investigation is the cause and origin."

Officials did not discuss Morris's specific role in the fire, but Chitwood said Morris was believed to smoke, and Morris had told a witness that in the past he had brought candles to others who had slept in the space, the affidavit said.

Morris is being held on $50,000 bail at the Delaware County prison. According to court records, Morris has at least three prior arrests for DUI.

The Payless store nearly was destroyed in the fire, while the KicksUSA, GNC, and Modell's Sporting Goods stores also were heavily damaged.