A man who was convicted by the federal government of setting fire to an apartment building in New Orleans in 2000 was caught by Forest Park police after allegedly setting at least eight different fires the evening of March 8 in Forest Park.
Police said Samuel Sahady, 37, of the 7200 block of Randolph St., matched the description of a man seen walking his dog by witnesses after several of the dumpster and garbage can fires were discovered.
The fires were discovered around midnight in the 100 block of Belvedere, the 100 block of Elgin, the 100 block of Marengo and the 7300 block of Dixon.
“He was not caught in the act, but police recognized him from witness descriptions and he ran into an apartment building, and police chased him on foot,” Forest Park Deputy Chief Thomas Aftanas said. Sahady was arrested the following day, according to Aftanas.
Police said Sahady also was charged with starting dumpster and garbage can fires on Dec. 29, 2012, in the 100 block of Marengo and the 7300 block of Dixon and three dumpster blazes on Jan. 31 in the 7200 block of Franklin and the 100 block of Marengo.
According to police reports, Sahady allegedly said he threw paper combustible material into the garbage receptacles and set it on fire. One fire in the 100 block of Elgin damaged an adjacent garage.
According to court records, Sahady was convicted in federal court of setting fire to a multi-family residential rental property in New Orleans in Feb. of 2000.
Police said Sahady moved to Forest Park in December.
He was charged with arson, attempted arson and criminal damage to property.
This article has been updated to correct the date of the arson fires, the date of the arrest and the charges against the offender.
