Arrest made in massive Upper Darby business fire

UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- A homeless man is now in police custody, charged in connection with the 4-alarm fire in the Upper Darby business district.

Authorities say 54-year-old James Morris was allegedly squatting inside the abandoned second floor of the Payless Shoe Source store when the fire started. But it remains unclear if Morris had anything to do with it.

Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood says, "The guy who was arrested was staying up on the second floor unbeknownst to people on the first floor."

The second floor, thought to be vacant, could be entered using this alleyway fire escape.

Police say they became interested in Morris Tuesday when he approached them and said he and others slept in the building.

Morris later allegedly confessed he traded metal shelving he tore out of the second floor to a man with a shopping cart who sold it for scrap.

"Morris, for some alcohol, beer and vodka, agreed to give this guy the scrappings of the shelving inside the second floor of Payless," Chitwood explained.

Authorities say Morris, who is charged so far with trespass and theft, was in the building just before the fast moving blaze was discovered.

Investigators are still trying to pin down what sparked the fire.

Upper Darby Fire Chief Edward Cubler says, "There was no type of accelerant found. There was nothing up there indicating that. We do believe whatever took place was not intentionally done."

Intentional or not, the damage comes during a revival of Upper Darby's shopping district. Just across the street from the fire a new upscale studio movie grill is about to open this month.

The Upper Darby mayor says he has ordered an inspection of the area to see if there are any more squatters in this particular part of the borough.

Superintendent Chitwood says the man who had the scrap metal in the cart is considered a witness in this case. The criminal focus remains solely on James Morris at this time.

Morris remains behind bars on $50,000 bail.