The volunteer firefighter was charged Wednesday with arson and reckless endangerment.
A volunteer firefighter in Suffolk County was arrested for allegedly setting a brush fire in Medford . Firefighter Jonathan Quiles intentionally set a fire in a wooded area on Mount Vernon Avenue that damaged a 2004 Chevrolet parked nearby, police say.
The fire burned through an area of Twelve Pines Park on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters responded Wednesday morning to put out hot spots.In court it was revealed that four witnesses saw the suspect at 3:23 p.m. kicking and throwing cotton balls, which they say he lit on fire. And 15 minutes later, behind a residential area, another witness saw him throw cotton balls on fire. Quiles is charged with arson and reckless endangerment. The Suffolk District Attorney says the charges are not bail eligible. "Unfortunately, under New York's 'Bail Reform,' intentionally setting fires in the midst of the dangerously dry conditions and a statewide burn ban are not bail eligible offenses, meaning my prosecutors cannot even ask for bail on these charges. Our New York lawmakers need to get their act together and pass common sense fixes to a broken bail system," said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. The Medford Fire Department said they "perform arson background checks before admitting members and there was no knowledge to suspect that this individual may have had any inclination of intentionally setting fires."The department said "the incident is actively being investigated by the Suffolk County PD Arson Squad." An order of protection was requested by at least one of victims, the owner of a 2004 Chevrolet parked nearby that also caught fire.
Medford Suffolk County Firefighter Arrest Jonathan Quiles Mount Vernon Avenue 15542829
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