--The Commonwealth's fire marshall says that arson caused a fire that took out five businesses Tuesday in Northborough. 70 firefighters were needed to put down the flames. A five and dime that had been in operation for 50-plus years was among the casulties, which also included "an appliance store, a jeweler, a market and a bead shop." [Boston Herald]

--We don't often link to college blotters (there's only so many times you can report drunk and disorderly conduct) but the BU Campus Crime logs deserve attention for creative titles like "No country for young (drunk) men," "Time for a new workout buddy" and "Step 1: cut a hole in the box." They also note that BUPD had an incident with a "group of Greenpeace members [who were] aggressively approaching people." [The Daily Free Press]

--A car ran into an Emack & Bolio's ice cream store in Roslindale, injuring one person. The driver apparently hit the gas while trying to hit the break (several years ago New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell explored this phenomenon, known as pedal error, here.) [WHDH]

--A mute, mentally disabled man who left a group at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square was found over eight hours later in Canton, Massachusetts by police, who returned him to the hospital where he resides. [Boston Globe]

All charges alleged until proven under law.