Stamford Man Charged With Trying To Set Fire At Norwalk Courthouse

NORWALK, Conn. – Connecticut State Police arrested a Stamford man Friday in connection with an attempted arson at the Norwalk Superior Courthouse last year, according to state police records.

Connecticut State Police arrested a suspect in a break-in at the Norwalk Superior Court building from March 2013.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Greg Canuel

03/24/2014 2:00 p.m.

In March 2013, a suspect broke a window on the Belden Street courthouse and entered the state’s attorney’s office. The suspect fled when police responded to the alarm, but investigators found signs that he had planned to set the office on fire, state police said Monday.

Investigators from the state police identified Joseph Stephenson, 47, of Greyrock Place, Stamford, as the suspect, according to police reports. Stephenson was on trial in Norwalk at the time on two larceny charges and was convicted two days after the incident, according to court records.

State Police filed for a search warrant to check Stephenson’s DNA against evidence gathered at the scene, police said. Stephenson refused and was charged with interfering with a search warrant along with the other charges Monday.

Stephenson was arrested without incident Friday and charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and attempted first-degree arson. He was held on $150,000 bond, and taken to Norwalk Superior Court for arraignment Monday.

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