Man Arraigned On Arson Charges

District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today that German Santiago, 72, of West Haverstraw, N.Y., was arraigned in Rockland County Court on an indictment charging him with 11 counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, 11 counts of Arson in the Second Degree, one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

On August 1, at approximately 5 a.m., German Santiago, a resident living at 52 Blauvelt Avenue in West Haverstraw, N.Y., ignited a mattress inside near the front of the home. The multi-family residence is home to 12 tenants, including three under the age of 16-years-old. The tenants, who were sleeping in their respective rooms, were awoken by a loud noise and came out to witness the fire. One tenant observed the defendant pouring an item on a mattress, then saw the defendant flee the location. Members of the Town of Haverstraw Police Department responded to the scene and assisted in extinguishing the fire.

The incident was investigated by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department with assistance from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The defendant faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison.