NEW HARTFORD — A 12-year-old boy has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly setting fire to merchandise inside a Walmart store and burglarizing a restaurant at a local mall.
The New Hartford Police Department responded to a reported fire inside the Walmart store on Commercial Drive at approximately 10:40 p.m. on July 23.
Officers determined that two juvenile males had obtained a flare from the sporting goods section of the store just before it was scheduled to close.
One juvenile ignited the flare and attempted to set fire to various items in the back aisles of the store, according to police.
The 12-year-old proceeded to a display containing pillows and bedding and deliberately ignited the store merchandise, investigators determined.
The flare was left burning on the display while both juveniles fled the store on foot.
Several customers and employees were present in close proximity to the flames and smoke at the time of the fire.
Walmart employees noticed the smell of smoke and were able to locate and contain the fire before it could spread further.
No injuries were reported, and damage was limited due to the staff’s quick response.
Later that same day, New Hartford Police were dispatched to Sangertown Square Mall for a past burglary complaint at Paradise Eatery.
Both investigations were turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division, which determined that the same two juveniles had committed a burglary at the mall business prior to the Walmart incident.
On July 30, the 12-year-old male juvenile was charged with arson in the second degree, a Class B felony, and reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class D felony, related to the Walmart incident.
The same juvenile was also charged with burglary in the third degree, a Class D felony, and petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor, related to the Paradise Eatery burglary.
The 12-year-old was recently charged with menacing in the second degree following an incident at Consumer Square and petit larceny for stealing a bicycle in the Village of New Hartford.
Those charges are still pending in the Oneida County Probation Department.
Due to his age, the juvenile and his parent will answer the new charges after being issued appearance tickets returnable to the Oneida County Probation Department.
