Quote from Michael McStay on January 19, 2026, 4:25 am

investigation into the attempted arson at the Abington

🧯 What Happened

• On Friday morning around 9 a.m., a man was seen on surveillance video pouring gasoline on the Abington Police Chief’s cruiser, which was parked in a marked space outside the station at 215 Central Street.
• The suspect was caught before he could ignite the liquid.

👤 Suspect Identified

• Police have identified the suspect as 39-year-old Franklin Cederholm, believed to be from the Abington area.
• He was taken into custody without incident and also had a lighter and two gallons of gasoline when arrested.

📋 Charges & Investigation

• Cederholm is facing multiple charges, including:

  • Attempted arson
  • Malicious damage to a motor vehicle
  • Trespassing
    Additional charges may be added as the investigation continues.

• Police have stated that the investigation is still active, and no motive has yet been publicly released.

🚓 Response & Safety

• An Abington police lieutenant saw the suspect approaching and intervened quickly, likely preventing what could have been a serious fire and risk to the police station building.
• The Abington Fire Department assisted in cleaning up the gasoline to secure the scene.

🧠 Additional Notes

• Officials indicated that Cederholm was taken for a mental health evaluation following his arrest.
• The police chief emphasized the importance of the swift actions by officers in averting a potential disaster.