MARSHFIELD, Mass. — A Marshfield man has charged with setting a boat on fire and stealing another boat to flee the scene, Marshfield Police Sergeant Liam Rooney confirms.
Scituate Police contacted Marshfield Police just before 6 a.m. Wednesday to report they were responding to a large boat on fire in the South River.
When first responders arrived, the boat was completely engulfed in flames and subsequently sank to the bottom of the river.
Rooney said the investigation determined another boat had been stolen across the river in Marshfield and may have been used by the suspect to flee the area.
Police used boats, a drone and an airplane to locate the suspect in a stolen boat in the North River by Route 3, according to Rooney.
Police arrested 36-year-old David Pongonis. He’s charged with use of motor boat without authority, larceny over $1,200, malicious and wanton damage or defacement of property and a motor boat equipment violation.
Rooney said Pongonis was arraigned Wednesday and released on personal recognizance.
The state fire marshal’s office told Boston 25 News a 32-foot lobster boat went up in flames while at its mooring.
NEW: @MAFireMarshal tells me this 32’ lobster boat caught fire at its mooring in Scituate early this morning. The boat has since sunk. @MassDEP is involved due to an oil spill. (Video: Marilyn White) #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/UBNu5w6XWX
— Mike Saccone (@mikesacconetv) October 30, 2019
The state Department of Environmental Protection was involved because of an oil spill.
The fire marshal’s office has an investigator headed to the scene Wednesday afternoon.
Rooney said the fire is currently under investigation by Scituate Police, the state fire marshal’s office, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council’s dive team.
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