A Pottsville man wanted for arson was taken into custody in New Jersey on Monday.
On Monday, January 27th, 2025, a task force of officers from Pottsville Police, Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms tracked wanted fugitive, Tyrie Dunn to Lodi, New Jersey.
The suspect's vehicle used in the commission of an arson fire on Friday, January 17th, 2025, in the City of Pottsville, was located near the intersection of Pasadena and Christopher Streets.
Surveillance was then set up on the vehicle and at approximately 1315hrs, Tyrie Dunn emerged from a house on Pasadena Street and got into the driver seat of the vehicle.
Dunn began to flee the scene in the vehicle and while doing so, struck an FBI vehicle which caused the door to strike an FBI Agent and momentarily pin him between the door and door opening.
Dunn fled on Pasadena and crashed into a fence where he then fled on foot.
Dunn was located in a storage shed a short time later near Stokes Street and Charlton Ave.
Upon being located, Dunn began to swing a pickaxe at officers striking an Agent in the back. No serious injuries resulted from the incident.
Dunn was transported back to Pennsylvania arraigned on his original state charges by on-call MDJ Serina and committed to SCP unable to post $500,000 straight cash bail.
Federal charges for Dunn are pending.
Court Papers documenting charges
On Friday, January 17, 2025, at approximately 6:08 a.m., Pottsville Police and Fire Departments responded to a house fire at 678 North 2nd Street. Upon arrival, the front of the residence was engulfed in flames.
An extensive investigation, involving multiple agencies, revealed the fire was intentionally set using Molotov cocktails.
According to an affidavit filed by the Pottsville Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Reading City Police Bomb Squad, and agents from Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) assisted in the investigation. Video evidence obtained from the scene showed a male suspect lighting two incendiary devices made from Starbucks Frappuccino bottles filled with flammable liquid. One device landed near the front door of the residence, while the second struck a wire and fell into the street.
The investigation identified the suspect as 34-year-old Tyrie Rashad Dunn, after surveillance footage linked him to the purchase of Starbucks bottles at a Sheetz convenience store hours before the fire. The footage showed Dunn concealing one bottle in his clothing while purchasing the other. The bottles matched those recovered at the scene.
Authorities tracked the vehicle used by Dunn—a 2023 gray Kia Forte with Washington State license plates—to a rental company. It was rented by a Brooklyn, New York resident who is reportedly married to Dunn.
At the time of the fire, the residence was occupied by four individuals, one of them being the suspect's son, as well as a cat. The suspect’s son, sustained minor burns and broken bones after jumping from a second-story window to escape the flames. The cat suffered second- and third-degree burns. One other victim also sustained injuries.
Text messages obtained during the investigation revealed that Dunn was upset with his son and one of the other victims, accusing them of stealing money from him. Police allege this dispute motivated the attack.
Based on the evidence, police charged Dunn with multiple offenses, including:
- Aggravated Arson (Person Present Inside Property)
- Arson-Danger of Death or Bodily Injury
- Arson-Inhabited Building or Structure
- Possession of Explosive or Incendiary Material
- Arson with Intent to Destroy Unoccupied Building
- Arson Endangering Property (Reckless Endangerment of Inhabited Buildings)
- Reckless Burning or Exploding (Property Damage Exceeding $5,000)
- Causing Catastrophe
- Risking Catastrophe
- Failure to Prevent Catastrophe
- Criminal Mischief (Damage to Property)
- Aggravated Assault (Serious Bodily Injury)
- Simple Assault (Four Counts)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (Four Counts)
- Terroristic Threats with Intent to Terrorize Another (Four Counts)
- Propulsion of Missiles onto Roadways (Two Counts)
- Cruelty to Animals
- Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death)
- Possession of Incendiary Devices
- Possession of Instruments of Crime with Intent
- Retail Theft
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Scattering Rubbish (Two Counts)