‘Squatter’ cited by Watertown police

The man who caused a fire scare early Tuesday morning in an a abandoned two apartment house at 233 Sterling St. was charged by city police with trespassing early Wednesday morning.

Paul W. Scanlon, 27, of 24021 Route 12 is the man referred to by Watertown firefighters Tuesday as a “squatter” who set fire inside a metal tool box to provide heat. A fire call was made at 5:14 a.m. when smoke was seen coming from the second floor bedroom of the structure, but there was no fire.

Police said Mr. Scanlon did not have permission from the city to be in the structure, which was condemned in 2007, or from the owner of record, Patrick Jacques, Stamford, Conn.