The Staten Island neighborhood of West Brighton was thrown into disarray following a bizarre arson incident involving burning sex toys. Harry Torres, 37, has found himself at the center of the case after he ignited these unconventional objects in the backyard of his mother's residence, sparking a fire that subsequently engulfed multiple homes and vehicles. The incident was reported by NBC New York.
Authorities claim Torres confessed to the act, stating, "I started the fire. I was in the backyard at my house and I lit two sex toys on fire," according to court documents cited by NBC New York. The fire department was called in around 3:20 p.m. and had to quickly respond to control the three-alarm fire, which required multiple hose lines and a tower ladder to combat.
Meanwhile, Torres' public defender argued that his actions were accidental, “I don’t believe there was any intent to damage houses, cars or anyone,” Marion Linthicum-Campbell told Staten Island Advance. Despite the claim, Torres is currently facing charges of arson and reckless endangerment among others.
No injuries were reported in the fire, although a senior citizen was forced to make a precipitous exit from her home with assistance from a neighbor. The 87-year-old woman, having resided there since 1987, managed to flee uninjured. The damage, however, has left a lasting impact on the community, with affected residents now grappling with the aftermath. FDNY officials described the fire as "heavy, deep-seeded" that necessitated the use of substantial firefighting resources, Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms elaborated in a news conference, as detailed by NBC New York.
After the incident, Torres, still donning the blue robe and slippers he wore at the time of the arrest, was put on supervised release by Judge Biju Koshy. The next court session has been scheduled for June 17, Staten Island Advance reported. Directly after the hearing, Torres was seen exiting the courthouse, avoiding answering any questions and redirecting them to his attorney, for which he apologized. When asked about his immediate plans, he revealed an intent to try to catch a bus home to assess the damage. Multiple orders of protection were also issued by the court for the benefit of his neighbors.
