The man Rochester Police have named a “person of interest” in this week’s fatal fire on Hertel Street as pleaded “not guilty” to an attempted assault charge in City Court.
Lawrence Emory Dash was arraigned today after being arrested yesterday in Buffalo and brought back to Rochester. The assault charge is unrelated to the Monday night fire that killed 34-year-old Champagne Singleton and injured six other people.
The criminal complaint filed against Dash in court says he tried to stab his girlfriend with a machete during a domestic fight, but she was able to break away and barricade herself away from him. Dash allegedly punched the victim and bit her right arm during the fight.
The fight happened in the house at 30 Hertel Street that was deliberately set on fire about an hour later. Police have ruled it an arson-homicide case.