He also faces robbery, drug charges unrelated to Brandywine Health facility fire
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
The Coatesville Fire Department responded Feb. 19 to a one-alarm fire at the Brandywine Health Center on East Lincoln Highway.
An 18-year-old Pomeroy youth is facing a multitude of charges, including arson related to a one-alarm fire last Tuesday at the Brandywine Health Center, police said Monday.
Amir Hammond, who was taken into custody Saturday on a warrant for a Feb. 21 robbery, has also been charged with arson, reckless endangerment, and drug offenses, according to court records. He was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $65,000 bail, police said.
Police said Hammond allegedly entered an occupied vehicle parked at the corner of North Sixth Avenue and East Lincoln Highway on Feb. 21 about 8:19 p.m. and stole a cell phone from the vehicle’s operator after implying that he had a handgun in his possession.
While in custody, Hammond confessed to setting a fire in the east side stairwell of the Brandywine Health Center, a four-story building located at 744 E. Lincoln Hwy., police said. Multiple residents from two floors in the housing section of the building had to evacuate, along with multiple employees from several business in the building. Police said the drug charges stemmed from the fact that Hammond was in possession of crack cocaine when arrested on the robbery warrant.
Acting Fire Chief Jim Lentz said firefighters were dispatched at 6:35 p.m. on Feb. 19 to 744 E. Lincoln Hwy., after the fire alarm was activated. Lentz said firefighters located a fire on the first floor of the building, which was brought under control in less than 10 minutes. Firefighters from the Thorndale and Veterans Administration departments assisted.
No one was injured, Lentz said, adding that the fire was contained by the activation of a sprinkler system prior to the arrival of firefighters. He said the building sustained some water damage, which resulting in the cancellation of some activities.The fire was investigated by both the Chester County and State Police Fire Marshall as well as the Coatesville Police Department, Lentz said.
