A Warwick man has been charged with setting the fire that displaced three residents, including his ex-girlfriend, at 5 Thompson Ave. Thursday night.
David J. Derderian, 37, of 454 Algonquin Drive, Warwick, was charged by Westerly police with domestic first-degree arson, a felony.
Derderian was reported to have fled the scene after allegedly starting the fire at the woman’s home at 7: 45 p.m. He was apprehended by Rhode Island State Police in West Greenwich at about 8:30 p.m. after Westerly police alerted other departments of the charges against Derderian.
State police charged Derderian with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, first offense, blood alcohol content unknown, refusal to submit to a chemical test to determine intoxication levels, and vandalism/malicious damage to property.
Neighbors reported seeing a “suspicious male in the area just before the fire was reported,” Westerly Police Chief Edward St. Clair said. Police were able to get a description of a vehicle and license plate information before the driver left the scene.
Derderian was held overnight at the state police barracks in Hope Valley for arraignment in 4th Division District Court in Wakefield before Judge Joseph T. Houlihan on both charges. St. Clair said he was expected to be held without bail on the charge.
St. Clair said the first-floor tenant was able to leave the apartment safely before the fire department arrived on the scene. He said the second-floor apartment tenant was not home at the time of the fire.