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Man sets fires to police car, garbage, next to sleeping passenger, across boroughs, NYPD says
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 15, 2025
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Courtesy NYPD
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jan 15, 2025
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Police are searching for an unidentified man accused of setting multiple fires across the city last week, including inside two subway stations and a police car.
The NYPD said the man set a police car on fire shortly after 2 a.m. Friday before igniting a second fire that damaged a vehicle in front of 14 Murray St., near City Hall. The suspect then reportedly traveled to the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall subway station, where he set a paper cup on fire and tossed it into a garbage can around 2:55 a.m., police said. The spree concluded around 3:40 a.m. when the man set fire to a pile of garbage next to a sleeping passenger aboard a northbound J train at the Woodhaven Boulevard station in Queens, according to officials.
Police shared video showing the suspect standing in the train car and observing the sleeping passenger. Smoke can be seen rising from the seat where the passenger is resting.
Police said the suspect fled the Woodhaven Boulevard station on foot. There were no reported injuries in any of the incidents.
Officials said police were requesting the public's assistance in locating the man, and added that the NYPD's Arson and Explosion Unit is investigating the incidents.
The alleged acts of arson follow a recent string of violent subway incidents, including one in which a woman died after a 33-year-old man set her on fire aboard an F train in Brooklyn last month. The man, Sebastian Zapeta, pleaded not guilty to charges of arson and murder earlier this month.
They also come after Gov. Kathy Hochul's announcement that additional National Guard members would be deployed to patrol the subway system, joining hundreds of soldiers already on duty.
Hochul recently unveiled a subway safety plan that includes stationing a police officer on every overnight train for the next six months.
The MTA referred Gothamist to the NYPD for comment on the matter.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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