Franklin state police troopers responded to the scene of the fire, Orchard Park Trailer Court, Sunday after Seneca fire chief Paul Marsh made a request for a fire marshal, according to a criminal complaint filed by trooper Dennis Lindenberg.
Upon their arrival and subsequent clearing of the trailer, no one was found, but a dog was discovered dead in its cage, the complaint said.
The officers were later notified by Marsh that the homeowner had text messages and a voicemail proving the fire was an arson, the complaint said.
The homeowner met with Lindenberg and the man said he and his boyfriend, Gerald Crusan, 27, of Rouseville, had been drinking at the Polish National Alliance in Oil City earlier in the evening and wound up getting into an argument over Crusan getting a job, the complaint said.
The homeowner left the PNA and went to Titusville, while Crusan walked into Oil City, the complaint said. Then, just before 10 p.m., the homeowner recieved a text message from Crusan that implied he might start a fire after gathering all his things, the complaint said.
Crusan’s brother, Shawn, 25, who was staying at the homeowner’s trailer at the time, called the home owner and claimed Gerald Crusan had a lot of lighter fluid that could burn down the residence, the complaint said.
Shawn Crusan was interviewed by police Tuesday and he said his brother, his cousin, Kevin Seigworth Jr., and Joe Deal arrived at the trailer about 10 p.m., the complaint said. Shawn Crusan said his brother and Seigworth came into the trailer and carried out items to Deal’s car, but Deal never got out of the vehicle.
The last time Shawn Crusan saw his brother, he said Gerald Crusan was throwing things around and had a teddy bear the home owner had given him in his left hand, as well as a can of lighter fluid in his right hand, the complaint said.
Shawn Crusan claims he told his brother not to do anything stupid and then left the residence, the complaint said.
Deal was also interviewed by police Tuesday and he said he recieved a phone call from Gerald Crusan asking for a ride to the trailer in Orchard Park, the complaint said.
Deal said he took Gerald Crusan and Seigworth there and, after bringing out bags to the car, both Crusan brothers and Seigworth got in the car and left, the complaint said.
Once on Bredinsburg Road, Deal said each one of them said they had set a stuffed animal on fire and Gerald Crusan turned to his brother and said “Now you’re initiated,” the complaint said.
Gerald Crusan provided his account of Sunday’s events during an interview with police Wednesday. He claimed his brother set a stuffed animal on fire and threw it in the bathtub, the complaint said.
Gerald Crusan said he threw a towel on it and thought it was put out, and that his brother was laughing the whole time, according to the complaint.
The fire damage at the scene is consistent with the description of point of origin described by Gerald Crusan, the complaint said.
Shawn Crusan has been charged with a felony counts of arson and criminal mischief, in addition to misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and false swearing.
Gerald Crusan has also been charged with felony counts of arson and criminal mischief, as well as misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, terroristic threats and false swearing.
Felony counts of arson and criminal mischief, and a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals, have been also been filed against Seigworth.
The Crusan brothers have been placed in the Venango County jail after failing to post $125,000 bail each.
