Man set car on fire after not finding anything he could steal from inside it, police say

A Wyoming man already being held in the Franklin County Jail is now facing arson charges after allegedly admitting to setting a car on fire while high last year, because there was nothing valuable inside to steal. 

Raymond Carter Weingartner, 18, Powell, Wyoming, is charged with one count each of felony reckless burning or exploding and misdemeanor criminal mischief, and cited with dangerous burning, according to court documents. He was unable to post $100,000 bail. 

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Pennsylvania State Police's deputy fire marshal spoke to Weingartner several months following the incident on Feb. 22 in the Franklin County Jail, where he was detained for other non-related offenses.

He told officers he was driving to a friend's house while high between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Sept. 8, when he saw a broken-down car parked along Cornertown Road, Greene Township, near a piece of construction equipment, documents state. Because he couldn't find anything in the vehicle worth taking, Weingartner then decided to instead light it on fire. 

Police said he told them he poured gasoline on the car with a full can he keeps with him, because he does not pay attention to his fuel gauge and has run out before. After starting the blaze with a lighter, Weingartner watched the flames for a few minutes and then left out of concern it might explode. 

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He mentioned he might have taken a video of the incident, "but wasn't sure because he was really high," according to documents. Weingartner also said he went back to the scene a few days later, but the vehicle was gone. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on March 5 in Franklin County Central Court. 

In other police news: 

• Cody Allen Layton, 24, Chambersburg, was charged with one count felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver after he was found to possess some methamphetamine during a traffic stop, according to court documents. He was arraigned and taken to the Franklin County Jail unable to post $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on March 5 in Franklin County Central Court. 
• A Fayetteville man was cited with harassment, Pennsylvania State Police said. 
• Someone removed a mailbox post and a mailbox from the ground at a property on Woodstock Road, Greene Township, and then threw it over a bank, Pennsylvania State Police said. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at 717-264-5161. 
• A Chambersburg woman was taken to Chambersburg Hospital following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Sollenberger Road and Lincoln Way West, Hamilton Township, at about 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 20, Pennsylvania State Police said. 
• A Fayetteville man was arrested for driving under the influence after authorities responded to a crash on Rocky Mountain and Corls roads, Greene Township, at about 3 a.m. on Feb. 16, Pennsylvania State Police said. 
• A Shippensburg man was taken into custody following a domestic dispute in Southampton Township the evening of Feb. 24 in which a woman said she was thrown to the ground and strangled, Pennsylvania State Police said. 
• A man is accused of talking several Starbucks beverages from a Greene Township Sheetz at about 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 and then fleeing, Pennsylvania State Police said. The man fled in a dark Nissan Versa with the Maryland registration number 3CS9116. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at 717-264-5161.