Man arrested for arson at JG Transmissions in Willow Grove and a residence in Huntingdon Valley; accused of setting a third fire in Glenside

Sean Gahagan, 57, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, who is accused of intentionally setting fires at JG Transmissions in Upper Moreland Township and a residence in Huntingdon Valley, is now facing arson charges for allegedly setting a third fire.

Accordingly PhillyBurbs, Gahagan now faces misdemeanor charges in connection with a shed fire in the 2200 block of Charles Street in the Glenside section of Abington Township.

Officials say Gahagan set all three fires shortly after midnight on Dec. 29, 2023, and he knew the victims. An investigation revealed he was convicted in 2004 of setting fire to the same Huntingdon Valley home where a former neighbor had lived, the affidavit states.

On Friday he was charged with four crimes, including arson, PhillyBurbs reported.

Background story

On December 29 at approximately 8:45 p.m., firefighters and Upper Moreland police were called to a fire at JG Transmissions, an auto repair shop located at 616 Davis Road in Willow Grove. Upon arrival, they found the commercial building engulfed in flames, with the worst of the fire concentrated around the front office area of ​​the building.

An investigation into the cause of the fire, which completely destroyed JG Transmissions and caused only limited damage to the shed, found that both fires had been deliberately set. Inside the shed, fire inspectors found a can of firelighter and a can of “Gum Cutter,” a highly flammable product used to clean various parts of car engines. Fire inspectors found that “Gum Cutter” is a product used by JG Transmissions.

Photos from the fire at JG Transmissions on December 29

A joint investigation by Upper Moreland and Lower Moreland police found that Gahagan, a former employee of JG Transmissions, visited the business at 10:00 a.m. on the day of the fire and asked about work, but was told no one was available. At the time of his unannounced visit, Gahagan was wearing a hooded camouflage jacket and driving a red Chevrolet Cobalt.

On January 1, Lebanon City Police arrested Gahagan for trespassing at a church. At the time of his arrest, Gahagan was wearing a camouflage jacket that matched the jacket worn by the suspect seen in surveillance video of him fleeing the fire at JG Transmissions.

He was arraigned on January 19 before Magistrate District Judge Denise Ashe and bail was set at $500,000 cash. Gahagan was then transported to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

Gahagan was charged with first-degree arson and six other counts: arson, endangering a natural disaster, burglary, theft by unauthorized taking, malicious damage to property and possession of a murder weapon.

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Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office