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

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — Police continue to hunt for a man suspected of setting his parents' home on fire, sending his dad to the hospital.

At 4:55 a.m. on Tuesday, the Pleasantville Police Department received a 911 call from a homeowner reporting that his son, James Vastola, 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.

James Vastola is described as a 32-year-old man; 6’ 2” tall and 210 pounds. He was last seen in a black and green sweatshirt, black sweatpants and white sneakers.

Police said that despite multiple ongoing investigative techniques, his whereabouts are still unknown.

"In close coordination with the Superintendent of Schools, and out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to delay the opening of Pleasantville Schools and to place all three school buildings in Lockout status," Pleasantville police said in a statement releasesd on Wednesday afternoon. "A Lockout restricts outdoor activities and limits building access to ensure the safety of students and staƯ from a potential external threat. At no point, however, was there any evidence to suggest that Mr. Vastola posed a specific threat to the schools or anyone inside. The delay allowed investigators valuable time to advance the case."

Anyone with any information about this incident, or Vastola's whereabouts, is being asked to contact the Pleasantville Police Department at 914-769-1500.