A 40-year-old man charged with setting fire to an occupied building on Central Avenue in Norwich in January 2018 filed a notice in New London Superior Court indicating he wants his trial right away.

On Monday, Judge Hillary B. Strackbein granted Tyree Davis' motion for a speedy trial and scheduled jury selection to begin Thursday in New London Superior Court. Defendants charged with serious felonies may request a speedy trial after they've been held for eight months. Under state law, the charges may be dismissed if the trial doesn't commence within 30 days.

Davis is represented by attorney William T. Koch Jr. Senior Assistant State's Attorney Stephen M. Carney is prosecuting him.

Davis has been held in lieu of $1.4 million since, police say, he intentionally set fire to a building at 261-263 Central Ave at 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 24, 2018.  

Several people in the building's two businesses and two upstairs apartments evacuated safely when the fire alarm system activated, and the rear deck, stairway and siding were ablaze when police and firefighters arrived.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, which they said caused moderate damage and resulted in one firefighter suffering a minor injury. Investigators ruled the fire "incendiary," and police said the investigation led to Davis. He was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief.

Davis was a registered sex offender and had nine court cases pending at the time of his arrest.

In April 2019, he was accused of attacking a correction officer with a broomstick at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Institution. He is being held at the Hartford Correctional Center, according to Department of Correction records.

k.florin@theday.com