PARIS — Police said a Rumford man was charged with arson after setting three small fires in the middle of Byron Street on Saturday night. 

Robert Lemieux, 60, made an initial appearance in Oxford County Superior Court on Monday afternoon on a felony count of arson and misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. 

According to an affidavit, police Sgt. James Bernard spotted Lemieux in front of his house in the middle of Byron Street around 9 p.m. igniting trash. Lemieux entered his home, turned off the lights and refused to answer police, Bernard said. The Rumford Fire Department extinguished the fire. 

Two hours later, police received a complaint from a resident on the street of an illegal burn in the same spot. It was stomped out by an officer.

About 45 minutes later, Bernard said he saw Lemieux start a fire on the spot, burning several magazines and a plastic strainer. The fire was quickly put out. 

When Lemieux entered his home, Bernard said he followed him and found the front door barricaded. He was eventually arrested and booked at the Oxford County Jail in Paris.

The fire caused the pavement to break apart and peel up, Bernard said. 

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net