(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A suspect has been arrested by the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) after multiple houses were damaged by incendiary devices, commonly referred to as “Molotov cocktails,” said CSPD.

“Incendiary devices are essentially anything that can be used that’s going to start or cause a fire,” said Colorado Springs Police Department Regional Explosives and Arson Unit Sergeant, Brett Iverson.

According to CSPD, between July 25 and Aug. 20, multiple houses in the 5300 block of Balsam Street and the 6000 block of Scout Drive between Austin Bluffs Parkway and North Powers Boulevard were hit by incendiary devices.

Police said one house on Balsam St. was damaged multiple times and two homes on Scout Drive were each hit once.

“Without talking specifics, that was our fear that, you know, this was a targeted crime, that their specific house was being targeted,” Iverson said. “At this point, we’re still looking through that and what that looks like, if these were that type of issue or if it was a target or not, or just kind of a coincidental act, random act, you know, on the same house for some reason but we’re still looking into those.”

CSPD, along with the Colorado Springs Fire Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the incidents. The investigation identified the suspect as 21-year-old Richard Macklin.

On Sunday, Aug. 20 CSPD officers were called to the area of Stellar Drive and Fossil Drive near where the previous incidents took place. A community member reported Macklin was in the area.

Police contacted Macklin who was reportedly in possession of a possible incendiary device. The regional explosives unit responded, and its investigation developed probable cause to arrest Macklin.

Macklin is facing charges of First Degree Arson and Possession of an Incendiary Device.

“Basically, we’re looking at property value, life endangerment and things like that,” Iverson said. “Then we also look at the possession of an incendiary device, which we don’t see that often as the use of an incendiary device. So, that’s another part of this that we had kind of a specific crime being committed.”

Both agencies shared by working with each other, they were able to share resources and expertise to get to the best solution.

“We are very, very lucky in Colorado Springs, we believe our relationship with the Colorado Springs Police Department in collaboration with the fire department is really great,” Colorado Springs Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshall, Kris Cooper said. “We work together on lots of cases, the fact that we have this program set up, you know, it allows firefighters to do the things that we’re good at and allows police department do things that they’re good at, and we collaborate.”