WEST HAVERSTRAW — A 72-year-old man was arrested Friday morning after police say he set a mattress on fire inside a residence and fled with a machete.
The Haverstraw Police Department responded to a 911 call at approximately 5:19 a.m. reporting a disturbance involving possible shots fired.
Officers arrived to find a mattress fully engulfed in flames near the front entrance of the residence, with civilians attempting to extinguish the fire.
Police secured the area while additional officers helped extinguish the fire until Fire Department personnel arrived.
Through witness statements and investigation, police determined a resident had intentionally ignited the mattress inside the home before fleeing on foot with a large machete.
Another resident dragged the burning mattress outside, preventing further damage and injury.
A coordinated search of the area led to the suspect’s apprehension shortly after.
German Santiago of West Haverstraw was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder in the second degree and arson in the second degree.
Santiago was arraigned in the Village of West Haverstraw Justice Court and remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility.
Police found no evidence that shots were fired.
The Haverstraw Police Department was assisted by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Arson Investigation Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
