Fugitive Wanted In Arson At His Family's Westchester Home Captured: Police

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — The hunt for a man suspected of setting his parents' home on fire, sending his dad to the hospital, has come to a close after more than a week.

The Pleasantville Police Department announced the arrest of 32-year-old James Vastola, in connection with the Dec. 10 domestic incident.

At 4:55 a.m. on Dec. 10, the Pleasantville Police Department received a 911 call from a homeowner reporting that his son had started a fire in the basement of the family home.

The Pleasantville Fire Department and the Pleasantville Ambulance Corps were dispatched, and responding officers arrived to find heavy smoke coming from inside the home. The father was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and eventually released.

The son had left the scene, and police notified the public of Vastola's description.

On Thursday, around 5:19 p.m., police received a call from a resident who believed they recognized the wanted man walking south on Commerce St., in Thornwood.

SEE ALSO: Suspect Wanted In Arson At His Family's Pleasantville Home Remains At Large: Police

After receiving a description of the suspect's clothing, members of the Pleasantville and Mount Pleasant police departments searched the area.

A Mount Pleasant officer found a man matching the description near the Hawthorne railroad station. He was identified as James Vastola, arrested, and taken to the Pleasantville Police Department headquarters for processing.

Vastola was arraigned on felony second-degree arson, felony second-degree assault, felony second-degree criminal mischief, and felony first-degree reckless endangerment.

Bail was set, and Vastola was taken to the Westchester County Jail.

The Pleasantville Police Department thanked the agencies who assisted in the investigation, from the day of the incident through the search which eventually brought Vastola to justice including, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Ossining Police Department, Sleepy Hollow Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Westchester County Department of Public Safety, New York State Division of Parole, and U.S. Marshals Service.