Crime & Safety
Ex-Husband Arrested After BMW Goes Up In Flames In Downtown Garage
After the car fire was extinguished in the garage of a New Rochelle residential tower, police tied the suspected arson to the Bronx man.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — An arrest has been made in an arson investigation into a car fire at a downtown residential tower, according to New Rochelle police.
On Feb. 16, at 12:47 p.m., cops responded to a report of an auto fire at the parking garage at 325 Huguenot Street. The New Rochelle Fire Department had extinguished a fire inside a 2024 BMW owned by a resident of the building.
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Following an investigation, New Rochelle detectives identified the victim's ex-husband as a suspect in the case. On Feb. 21, detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspect's home in the Bronx and the vehicle police believe he used to flee the scene.
On Tuesday, detectives executed the search warrant at the suspect's apartment. The suspect, Hari Valdez, was taken into custody.
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Valdez has six active arrest warrants out of Croton, according to New Rochelle police. He was released to Croton police after being released on his own recognizance from New Rochelle Court.
The 34-year-old has been charged with arson and felony criminal mischief.
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