Norwalk Man Accused of Setting Fire to Stamford Apartment House He Owned

By Barbara Heins (Patch Staff)

The owner of a multi-family home on Highland Road in downtown Stamford is facing an arson charge for allegedly setting it on fire in broad daylight on Wednesday.

According to Stamford Police, about 12:40 p.m. Dec. 3, Stamford Police and Stamford Fire and Rescue responded to 52 Highland Rd. on a report of a man pouring gasoline into the rear vestibule of the occupied dwelling.

A short time later, the stairway was engulfed in flames and a man was seen running from the yard of 52 Highland Rd. The resident who was at home was able to escape the blaze from the front of the house, according to authorities.

Stamford Fire and Rescue extinguished the blaze that was contained to the rear of the residence but it caused a large amount of heat and smoke damage to the building, according to police. Police arrived a short time later.

As Sgt. Russell Gladwin was eastbound on Highland Road, he saw a man walking out of a vacant lot on Highland Avenue. He was detained at the scene and an identification was made that he was the male seen running from 52 Highland Rd.

Police identified the man as Anthony Manousos, 34, of 1 Douglas Dr., Norwalk, who police later learned is the owner of the residence.

Officers from the Stamford Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation sifted through the scene with the local and state fire marshals. Stamford investigators contacted the States Attorney’s Office and applied for and executed several search warrants.

Through the execution of the search warrants and through several other investigative techniques, the investigators obtained an arrest warrant charging Manousos with first-degree arson.

His bond was set at $500,000.

Lt. Diedrich Hohn said investigators don’t know what the motive for setting the fire may have been. “He invoked his right to an attorney. He does not live there but rented it as an investment property,” according to Hohn.

Stamford Police photo: Anthony Manousos

Editor’s note: This article originally was published by Stamford Patch.