2 Orangetown Men Charged with Arson, Fraud in Early-Morning Car Fire

Two Orangetown men have been charged with arson and insurance fraud in connection with an early-morning fire that destroyed a car in Palisades, according to Orangetown Police.

Police said Ryan Swann, 22, of William Street, Sparkill, and Brian Baez, 23, of Bogart Place, Tappan, are accused of setting fire to a 2009 BMW 328i on Kopac Lane in Palisades. The car, according to police, is owned by Swann.

At about 2:11 a.m. today, Orangetown police recieved a report that a car had been stolen on Oak Tree Road in Palisades. As they were taking information about the car, police said another call came in reporting the fire on Kopac Lane.

Orangetown police said town officers and detectives found that Swann and Baez had set the car on fire to make an insurance claim. The car was destroyed by the fire. Volunteers of the Sparkill Fire Department put out the blaze.

Detectives ask that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information about it call them at 845-359-2121.

Swann and Baez were both charged with first-degree arson and third-degree insurance fraud. The were arriagned in Orangetown Town Court and were ordered held in the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City.