72-Year-Old Accused Of Setting To Fire Mattress In Multi-Family Home Is Indicted: Rockland DA

NEW CITY, NY — An elderly Rockland County man is facing a long list of felony charges in connection to terrifying and bizarre incident that unfolded earlier this month.

District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced on Monday that 72-year-old German Santiago, of West Haverstraw, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with 11 counts of second-degree attempted murder, 11 counts of second-degree arson, one count of first-degree criminal contempt, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

He faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

SEE ALSO: 72-Year-Old Lit Mattress On Fire In Home, Fled With Large Machete: Police

According to court documents, on August 1, around 5 a.m., Santiago, a resident of a home on Blauvelt Avenue in West Haverstraw, lit a mattress on fire inside the front of the home. The multi-family residence is home to 12 tenants, including three children under the age of 16.

The tenants of the home woke up to a loud noise and came out to witness the fire. One tenant saw Santiago pouring an item on a mattress, before fleeing.

Town of Haverstraw Police Department officers responded to the scene and helped in extinguishing the fire.