Upper Gwynedd Man Charged in Arson of Towamencin Home

Police have determined the July 4 fire at 1010 Anders Road was arson, and they have arrested an Upper Gwynedd man in connection with the blaze.

Jeffrey Reese Streamer, 43, of the 1200 block of Browning Court, is charged with arson involving danger of death or bodily injury, arson endangering property, burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking of movable property, receiving stolen property and recklessly endangering another person, police said.

Streamer was arraigned before District Judge Francis Lawrence in Norristown and remanded to Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 15 at 9 a.m. before District Judge Harold Borek.

Towamencin Police Chief Tim Dickinson said the homeowner, Guy Malick, and Streamer "are known to each other." Dickinson could not confirm a more specific characterization.

Police said Streamer allegedly poured gasoline throughout the Anders Road home and allegedly lit a bed on fire to conceal evidence of burglary and theft.

Police said firefighters reported the smell of gasoline in the home during the night of the fire.

When fire crews arrived at the home on July 4 at 9:43 p.m., the entire second floor was engulfed in flames, police said. All exterior doors on the first floor were propped open, and the two overhead garage doors were raised, police said.

An investigation was undertaken by Towamencin police, Towamencin Township Fire Marshal Kevin Pezzano, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Detective Bureau.

It was determined the fire was incendiary in nature and started in a second-floor bedroom, police said.

During the investigation, police learned that a white male in his early 40s had been seen at the home throughout the day July 4.

Through an investigation of information provided from the resident and a friend, the suspect was identified as Streamer, police said.

Police could not find Streamer July 5.

On July 6, police learned that Streamer was in the custody of Cheltenham Township police on unrelated charges, police said.

Towamencin police obtained a statement from Streamer. He told police he entered the home with the intention of stealing items from it, police said.

Streamer allegedly stole $20 in cash, several baseballs, a figurine and earrings, police said.

Streamer was arrested by Cheltenham police July 6 and charged with two disorderly conduct charges, one related to unreasonable noise and another related to hazardous or physically offensive conditions, according to documents filed in court.

Bail in that case was set at $7,500, with a preliminary hearing continued to July 18 at 10:45 a.m.

Streamer also has an active case out of Lower Providence from June 27, 2004, on an indirect criminal contempt charge, according to court documents.

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