Police: Property dispute preceded Sewickley Township garage arson

A Sewickley Township man is behind bars after state police said he set his neighbor’s garage on fire following an ongoing property dispute, according to court papers.

George Allen Stepinsky, 60, was arrested Wednesday on charges of arson, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, risking a catastrophe and related offenses. He is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail.

Firefighters were called to High Street at 1:22 a.m. on Sunday to extinguish flames in a detached garage. A state police fire marshal determined the fire was set by someone in the back rear corner of the structure, according to court papers.

Troopers learned that the property owner had been involved in a dispute for the last two months with Stepinsky, her neighbor. Police said the dispute stemmed from a property disagreement and involved verbal harassment. The property owner posted no trespassing signs as a result, according to court papers.

Home video surveillance showed Stepinsky firing a gun around 5 p.m. Saturday at his neighbor’s house, where damage was found on the brick exterior, police said. The camera was unplugged for about two hours, police said.

When the surveillance resumes at 7 p.m., smoke is seen coming from the garage area, according to court papers.

Stepinsky did not have an attorney listed in online court papers. An Aug. 5 preliminary hearing is set.