East Haven Restaurant Owner Arrested for Alleged Arson of Guiseppe's

An East Haven man was arrested earlier today and charged with arson after a joint police and fire investigation determined he set his own restaurant on fire in January, police said.

According to East Haven Police Deputy Chief John Mannion, on members of and responded to a 911 call that Giuseppe’s Apizza, located in a business plaza at 851 Foxon Road, was on fire. 

Camillo L. Bonesse, 34, of 140 Thompson St in East Haven, is the owner of the restaurant.

"The fire department successfully extinguished the blaze but Battalion Chief Paul Norwood sustained a knee injury when he fell through a burned out section of flooring in the kitchen," Mannion said.

The "cause and origin" of the fire was conducted jointly by members of the East Haven Police Department, East Haven Fire Marshall Anthony Moscato and two Connecticut State Troopers who are members of the State Fire Marshall’s Office. 

Mannion said as part of the investigation, the team brought with them an "accelerant detection" canine. 

The investigation determined that there were two distinct areas inside the facility where the fire started and the canine ‘hit’ on those for the presence of an accelerant.

"All accidental causes were eventually ruled out," Mannion said. ""

Today, at about 11 a.m., members of the East Haven Police Department arrested Bonesse on a warrant and charged him with first-degree arson in connection with the fire, Mannion said.

The deputy chief added Bonesse is being held on a $100,000 court-ordered bond.