ALLENTOWN, PA — A 60-year-old Allentown man has been arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, and other felonies in connection with a fire that damaged multiple homes and displaced dozens of residents on December 26, 2024, authorities announced.
Santos Mota-Ramirez, whose date of birth is May 28, 1964, faces two counts each of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and aggravated arson, all first-degree felonies. He is also charged with causing a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person.
According to Allentown Police, the fire in the 700 block of West Cedar Street caused significant damage to six homes and displaced approximately 30 people, who are now being assisted by the Red Cross and other agencies.
Mota-Ramirez was arraigned on December 26 by District Judge Jacob Hammond and is being held in Lehigh County Jail on $750,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 3, 2025, at Lehigh County Central Court.
“This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges have not been ruled out,” police said in a statement. Detectives Theodore Kiskeravage and Yamil Castillo are leading the investigation.