The man accused of setting fire to a building in New Britain Saturday was upset about being denied an apartment rental in the building, according to police.
At first, John DiPietro denied knowing who set the fire that destroyed the house next door to his Saturday, according to the arrest warrant, but in twenty minutes investigators wrung a confession from him: "He admitted starting the fire because he was upset," police said in court documents.
The owner of the burned building at 38 Winthrop Street spotted DiPietro during the fire, just a few hours after he told him he did not want to rent an apartment to him. DiPietro was losing his apartment next door at 28 Winthrop Street because of problems with the landlord there, according to people who know him.
DiPietro appeared in court Monday afternoon, charged with first degree arson and burglary, for allegedly breaking into the house. He's held on $200,000 bail on medical and mental health watch.
Police say DiPietro is a suspect in "numerous" burglaries and thefts recently in New Britain.
