Around the Region: Malden Man Allegedly Tried to Burn Family, Cat Saves Life in Somerville

Malden Man Faces 5 Attempted Murder Charges After Family Arson Attempt A man who allegedly tried to set his Malden home on fire with family inside was later arrested on 5 separate charges of attempted murder, police confirmed Monday. Juliet Edward Gustave, 38, of 7 Fremont St. in Malden, allegedly began dousing his family's home in gasoline around 8:45 p.m. Saturday night as a woman inside the home called 911.

Gustave reportedly fled from the scene, but was later arrested by police in gasoline-soaked clothes, according to scanner reports. -Chris Caesar

Cat May Have Saved Woman's Life in Monday Morning Winter Hill Fire: A woman who fell asleep on the couch with a cigarette was woken up by her cat early Monday morning, moments before her apartment was engulfed in flames, according to Deputy Chief Jim Luccia of the Somerville Fire Department. The woman made it out of the apartment and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for some smoke inhalation, Luccia said. At least six other people were displaced by the fire, which struck 130 Sycamore St., according to the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. -Chris Orchard

Town Meeting Upholds Seasonal Leaf-Blower Ban: Town Meeting members Arlington voted to uphold a seasonal leaf-blower ban in place Wednesday night. Members voted 110-95 against substituting a motion that would have put a repeal of the ban to a vote. The substitute motion was proposed by Stephen Harrington, a Town Meeting member from Precinct 13 who forced the Board of Selectmen to call Wednesday’s Special Town Meeting by submitting a petition with more than 200 signatures to have the ban reconsidered this fall. -John Waller

Mother of Slain Soldier Asks Romney to Stop Using Son's Death on Campaign Trail: Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will not be using tales of a local hero on his campaign trail anymore. Glen Doherty's mother, Barbara, accused Romney of attempting to use her son’s death for political gain and asked him to stop, according to The Boston Globe. “I don’t trust Romney,” she told WHDH-TV. “He shouldn’t make my son’s death part of his political agenda. It's wrong to use these brave young men, who wanted freedom for all, to degrade Obama." -Lindsey Davidson