Published: October 31, 2009 11:21 pm      

11/1- Second man charged in arsons

CUMBERLAND — A second man has been charged in connection with a series of arsons that occurred last month at downtown Cumberland businesses.

Gregory Thomas Laisure, 20, of Cumberland, was arrested Friday on charges of second-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, three counts of second-degree malicious burning, two counts of destruction of property over $500, and two counts of destruction of property under $500, according to Cumberland Police.

Laisure and Patrick Levi Kneisley, 18, are accused of deliberately setting fires that damaged a canopy, a trash can, a portable toilet, an advertisement sign and the awning of a business early in the morning on Oct. 15. Affected businesses include the Downtown Dollar Store and Robert’s Confections, police said.

Kneisley was arrested Oct. 20 and jailed on $45,000 bond at the Allegany County Detention Center. Laisure was jailed Friday on $40,000 bond.

Police and fire units extinguished two of the fires, and three others were discovered after they had already gone out, according to earlier reports.