Dover Man Accused Of Setting Fire To Apartment Building

DOVER PLAINS, NY — A Dover Plains man was arrested after being accused of setting fire to an apartment building that endangered its residents and firefighters.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office said Charles A. Keenan, 48, of Dover Plains, was charged with second-degree arson, a felony.

The sheriff's office said, shortly before 9 p.m. Jan. 13, a structure fire was reported on Brady Lane in the town of Dover.

J.H. Ketcham Hose Company responded, as well as mutual aid from the Amenia, Wassaic, Union Vale, Pawling ad Gaylordsville, Connecticut, fire departments.

The fire was investigated by the sheriff's office Detective Bureau and Fire & Arson Investigation Unit and the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, with the assistance of the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office.

The Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the New York State Police assisted at the fire scene.

After being processed, Keenan was arraigned in the Town of Dover Justice Court and sent to the Dutchess County Jail without bail until his next court appearance.

Sheriff Kirk A. Imperati said Keenan's actions not only endangered the lives of the residents in the apartment building but also the lives of the firefighters who responded and put out the blaze.

"We will not tolerate lives or property to be threatened by the crime of arson," he said, "and we will continue to work diligently with the fire departments, the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division and the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office to investigate and prosecute these acts to the fullest extent of the law."

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Pete Gerardi at 845-486-3835. The Sheriff’s Office can also be contacted via the tip line at 845-605-2583 or dcsotips@gmail.com, and all information will be kept confidential.