Arson fire results in arrest on unrelated warrant
Staff writer
An occupant of a Peabody house completely destroyed in a suspicious fire Sunday afternoon was later arrested by Peabody police on a Missouri warrant.
The fire at 406 N. Pine St. — the second fire at that address in two weeks — remains under investigation by state fire marshal Chris Mercer.
Mercer is regarding the fire as arson and will be interviewing residents. As of Tuesday morning, police had not told him one was in jail.
Police arrested Mackenzie A. Cromer, 20, whose address is listed on jail records as Peabody, on a warrant alleging aggravated failure to appear in court. Held without bond, Cromer awaits extradition to Missouri.
Police chief Bruce Burke said the house, listed on appraiser’s records as belonging to James Litton, who is deceased, was occupied by a Litton family member and two other people, including Cromer.
Firefighters battled the blaze for 2½ hours as Peabody ambulance stood by.
The same house was the scene of a smaller fire Feb. 1.
The Feb. 1 fire, reported at 11:13 p.m., was in a wood stove adjoining the house.
That one was quickly was extinguished by Peabody, Florence, and Burns firefighters.
Peabody ambulance stood by at the fire, too.
An electric crew from Evergy was called to disconnect service to a meter that a Peabody firefighter said was “pretty well melted.”
Firefighters remained on the scene of the first fire for nearly 1½ hours until the electric crew arrived.