The Lower Moreland Police Department named Officer Thomas Rolon the Officer of the Month for March for the successful arrest of an attempted arsonist.

Officials said that Officer Rolon was dispatched for a report of a suspicious person in the 2200 block of Pine Road in Huntingdon Valley on March 10 at approximately 4:00am.

Dispatch reported that there was a male at the front door of the residence wearing a mask and possibly attempting to get inside the home. Upon arrival, Officer Rolon observed that the front porch of the home was fully engulfed in flames, and a male who appeared to throw something at the front of the home towards the fire.

Officer Rolon also identified a black Volkswagen getaway car parked in front of the home with its headlights off. As Officer Rolon approached, the vehicle fled southbound on Pine Road. The male on foot was unable to get into the fleeing vehicle before it fled and began fleeing eastbound into the yards of the homes on Pine Road.

Officer Rolon pursued the male through the yards and was able to quickly detain him in handcuffs without incident.

“Officer Rolon’s quick thinking and careful observations led to a swift arrest of this felon,” the department said. “His radio communication skills further helped his squad mates extinguish the fire at the residence as well as bring all the victims to safety. GREAT JOB Officer Rolon!”

NBC’s video coverage of the incident can be found below:

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Photo: LMPD