An elderly Hicksville man was arrested on the morning of July 16 after it was determined by the Arson/Bomb Squad of the Nassau County Police Department, in conjunction with the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office, that he set three dumpster fires between June 13 and 16 in the Jericho area..

Police caught the subject after setting up a surveillance camera in hot spots where approximately 15 dumpster fires were reported over the previous four weeks. The Jericho Fire Department responded to all of these incidents, and firefighters easily recognized that suspicious circumstances were behind the abnormally frequent fires, according to First Assistant Chief Dave Ginzburg.

The alleged arsonist established a pattern quickly, repeatedly targeting dumpsters at the Pathmark shopping center on Broadway 106/107 and the Fairhaven apartment complex. "Sometimes there were one or two at the same time within walking distance of each other," said Ginzburg.

Residents in the apartments voiced particular concern over the mysterious fires, and, noted Ginzburg, they had reason. "You don't know if [whoever it may be] gets a rush from lighting the fires, or a rush from the lights and sirens responding. You hope he doesn't graduate to burning buildings." Though none of the fires ever spread out of control, the chief said there was always the possibility that the flames could have spread to a building.

The fears were alleviated once the police caught the perpetrator. The subject was charged with Criminal Mischief in the third degree. Said Ginzburg of the defendant, "I don't think the guy really quite knew what he was doing."