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Suspect in arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence has been denied bail

Suspect in arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence has been denied bail
HI, SUSAN. WE ARE HERE OUTSIDE ONE OF THE HARRISBURG FIRE STATIONS. AFTER A PRESS CONFERENCE JUST BROKE UP WITH FIRE CHIEF BRIAN ENTERLINE. HE IS STILL TALKING TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE FROM NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, SOME NEWSPAPERS OUT OF NEW YORK. HE JUST ENDED A GAGGLE WITH ALL OF THE MEDIA MEMBERS, INCLUDING NEWS EIGHT, GIVING US AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED AS FAR AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONCERNED. DURING THIS EVENT ON SATURDAY NIGHT, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AT 2 A.M., THIS IS AN INCIDENT THAT HE CALLS DOMESTIC TERRORISM, THAT THESE TWO FIRE TRUCKS WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO RESPOND TO. JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AT THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION. SO WE鈥橰E LEARNING SOME MORE TODAY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. WE ALSO HAVE SOME NEWLY RELEASED INFORMATION THIS MORNING, INCLUDING THE MUG SHOT OF CODY BALMER THAT IS THE SUSPECT IN THIS CASE. WE鈥橵E ALSO LEARNED THAT HE WILL NOT BE ARRAIGNED ON THOSE CRIMINAL ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE CHARGES. ARSON CHARGES, TERRORISM, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGES. TODAY WE HAVE LEARNED HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL THIS MORNING INSTEAD OF DAUPHIN COUNTY PRISON. THIS ALL STEMS, OF COURSE, FROM THE 2 A.M. FIRE. HE IS ACCUSED OF SETTING AT THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT HE HOPPED THE FENCE TO THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION ON GEIGER STREET, BROKE A WINDOW WITH A HAMMER, AND THREW MOLOTOV COCKTAILS IN THE BALLROOM AND ANOTHER ROOM, SPENDING ONLY ABOUT A MINUTE INSIDE THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION BEFORE THEN LEAVING AND RUNNING AWAY. AN EX GIRLFRIEND OF HIS DID CALL POLICE AND TURN HIM IN, AND HE IS IN CUSTODY RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT CHIEF ENTERLINE SHARED WITH US IS THAT HE BELIEVES THIS WAS A CASE OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM, NOT ONLY AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO AGAINST HIS OWN FIREFIGHTERS. THIS FIRE WAS MEANT TO GET THAT SATISFACTION OF. I WAS ABLE TO DISPLACE THE GOVERNOR. I WAS ABLE TO ATTACK THE GOVERNOR. RIGHT. THIS WAS A PERSONAL ATTACK ON THE GOVERNOR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. WE GOT TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND UNDERSTAND AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT I SAID. THE GOVERNOR WAS HUMAN. AT 2:00 ON SUNDAY MORNING, JUST LIKE EVERY ONE OF US IS. THE FIRE CHIEF DOES SAY IT TOOK ABOUT A HALF HOUR FOR HIS FIREFIGHTERS TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. AND HE DOES CALL THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION A COMPLEX PLACE TO FIGHT A FIRE. THEY CANNOT JUST DRIVE THE FIRE TRUCK RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT. CREWS DID HAVE TO CUT HOLES IN THAT FENCE TO GET THE FIREFIGHTERS THEMSELVES THROUGH, AND THE HOSES THROUGH TO FIGHT THAT FIRE. WE ALSO LEARNED TODAY THAT THE FIRE THAT THE GOVERNOR鈥橲 MANSION DOES HAVE A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM. SO THE
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Suspect in arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence has been denied bail
A man who allegedly scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor鈥檚 mansion was denied bail Monday as he faced charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson.Cody Balmer spoke with a public defender at times as he appeared in court late Monday afternoon after being released from a hospital, where he was taken after an unrelated medical event.Balmer, 38, told police he had planned to beat Gov. Josh Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents. A motive for the attack, including whether it had anything to do with Shapiro鈥檚 politics or religious beliefs, wasn鈥檛 immediately clear.Balmer's mother told The Associated Press on Monday that she had tried in recent days to get him assistance for mental health issues, but 鈥渘obody would help.鈥� She said her son had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The AP was not able to verify that information.鈥淗e wasn't taking his medicine, and that's all I want to say,鈥� Christie Balmer said, speaking at the family home in Harrisburg.The fire caused significant damage and forced Shapiro, his family and guests, including other relatives, to evacuate the building early Sunday. The residence, built in 1968, did not have sprinklers, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said. He estimated the damage could be in the millions of dollars.Balmer, who was arrested later in the day, faces charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover in that very room Saturday night along with members of Harrisburg鈥檚 Jewish community. They were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and firefighters extinguished the fire, officials said. No one was injured.Balmer had walked an hour from his home to the governor's residence, and during a police interview 鈥渁dmitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,鈥� according to a police affidavit that did not expand on that point. Afterward, he returned home, where police said they later found clothing he wore at the time and a small sledgehammer.Balmer turned himself in at state police headquarters after confessing to a woman he formerly had a relationship with and asking her to call police, which she did, the affidavit said. Authorities did not say whether he has a lawyer. He is expected to be arraigned once he is released from the hospital.Shapiro says he is unbowedHours after the fire, an emotional Shapiro, who is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, said the intruder could not deter him from doing his job or observing his faith.鈥淲hen we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover鈥� and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom, Shapiro said Sunday. 鈥淚 refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.鈥漋ideo below: Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks on fire at Governor's ResidencePolice say suspect hopped security fence and forcibly entered residenceBalmer, who is registered as an unaffiliated voter, appeared to have carefully planned the attack, police said. He was inside the residence for about a minute before he escaped and was later arrested in the area, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.He hopped over a nearly 7-foot-high (2-meter-high) iron security fence surrounding the property, eluded officers who became aware of the breach and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire, authorities said. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to make Molotov cocktails, documents say.Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He also had financial problems in recent years, including a lender filing for foreclosure on a modest Harrisburg house he owned in 2022 over missed mortgage payments, court records show. A deed transfer shows Balmer sold the house for $60,000 last September to settle the debt.He is the father of at least three children, with two women filing court complaints seeking child custody agreements in 2012 and 2023.鈥榃e have to be better than this,鈥� Shapiro saysThe fire badly damaged the large room that is often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west- and south-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes and shattered glass littered pathways. A charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-blackened doors.鈥淲e don鈥檛 know the person鈥檚 specific motive yet,鈥� Shapiro said at the news conference. 鈥淏ut we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don鈥檛 give a damn if it鈥檚 coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.鈥漃resident Donald Trump told reporters Monday that Balmer did not appear to be a fan of his, either.鈥淭he attacker basically wasn鈥檛 a fan of anybody," he said. "And certainly, a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.鈥漘__Associated Press reporters Michael Biesecker and Michelle Price in Washington and Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

A man who allegedly scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor鈥檚 mansion was denied bail Monday as he faced charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson.

Cody Balmer spoke with a public defender at times as he appeared in court late Monday afternoon after being released from a hospital, where he was taken after an unrelated medical event.

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Balmer, 38, told police he had planned to beat Gov. Josh Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents. A motive for the attack, including whether it had anything to do with Shapiro鈥檚 politics or religious beliefs, wasn鈥檛 immediately clear.

Balmer's mother told The Associated Press on Monday that she had tried in recent days to get him assistance for mental health issues, but 鈥渘obody would help.鈥� She said her son had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The AP was not able to verify that information.

鈥淗e wasn't taking his medicine, and that's all I want to say,鈥� Christie Balmer said, speaking at the family home in Harrisburg.

The fire caused significant damage and forced Shapiro, his family and guests, including other relatives, to evacuate the building early Sunday. The residence, built in 1968, did not have sprinklers, Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said. He estimated the damage could be in the millions of dollars.

fire at pennsylvania governor's residence
Commonwealth Media Services via CNN Newsource
This photo released by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shows damage to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after a fire on Sunday.

Balmer, who was arrested later in the day, faces charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.

Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover in that very room Saturday night along with members of Harrisburg鈥檚 Jewish community. They were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and firefighters extinguished the fire, officials said. No one was injured.

Balmer had walked an hour from his home to the governor's residence, and during a police interview 鈥渁dmitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,鈥� according to a police affidavit that did not expand on that point. Afterward, he returned home, where police said they later found clothing he wore at the time and a small sledgehammer.

Balmer turned himself in at state police headquarters after confessing to a woman he formerly had a relationship with and asking her to call police, which she did, the affidavit said. Authorities did not say whether he has a lawyer. He is expected to be arraigned once he is released from the hospital.

Shapiro says he is unbowed

Hours after the fire, an emotional Shapiro, who is viewed as a potential for the Democratic Party in 2028, said the intruder could not deter him from doing his job or observing his faith.

鈥淲hen we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover鈥� and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom, Shapiro said Sunday. 鈥淚 refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.鈥�

Video below: Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks on fire at Governor's Residence

Police say suspect hopped security fence and forcibly entered residence

Balmer, who is registered as an unaffiliated voter, appeared to have carefully planned the attack, police said. He was inside the residence for about a minute before he escaped and was later arrested in the area, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.

He hopped over a nearly 7-foot-high (2-meter-high) iron security fence surrounding the property, eluded officers who became aware of the breach and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire, authorities said. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to make Molotov cocktails, documents say.

Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He also had financial problems in recent years, including a lender filing for foreclosure on a modest Harrisburg house he owned in 2022 over missed mortgage payments, court records show. A deed transfer shows Balmer sold the house for $60,000 last September to settle the debt.

He is the father of at least three children, with two women filing court complaints seeking child custody agreements in 2012 and 2023.

鈥榃e have to be better than this,鈥� Shapiro says

The fire badly damaged the large room that is often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west- and south-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes and shattered glass littered pathways. A charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-blackened doors.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 know the person鈥檚 specific motive yet,鈥� Shapiro said at the news conference. 鈥淏ut we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don鈥檛 give a damn if it鈥檚 coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.鈥�

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that Balmer did not appear to be a fan of his, either.

鈥淭he attacker basically wasn鈥檛 a fan of anybody," he said. "And certainly, a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.鈥�

___

Associated Press reporters Michael Biesecker and Michelle Price in Washington and Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia contributed to this report.