Police say a Bellefonte man was identified on surveillance video lighting objects on fire and throwing them on the roofs of the Centre County Courthouse and sheriff’s office early Tuesday morning.
Dennis L. Hassinger, 48, was charged by Bellefonte police on Friday afternoon with multiple felonies in connection with the incident. District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker denied bail for Hassinger on the grounds that he presents a public safety risk and has no apparent stable residence.
County maintenance personnel were alerted to a water leak at the courthouse on Thursday morning and on inspection found a hole burned in the roof. Police then found another hole burned in the roof of the sheriff’s office and containers with flammable materials.
According to WJAC-TV, multiple law enforcement personnel who reviewed surveillance video recognized Hassinger from previous encounters.
The video allegedly showed Hassinger lighting objects on fire then throwing them on the roofs of the two buildings.
Hassinger is charged with arson of a historic resource, two counts of arson with intent to destroy an unoccupied building, and two counts of arson endangering property — each a second degree felony. He also is charged with two third-degree felony counts of reckless burning or exploding.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.
