Front Door, 2 Cars Set Ablaze; Arsonist Caught In Freeport: Police

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — A Freeport man has been charged with starting a fire outside of a Rockville Centre home, police said.

John Courtien, 57, is accused of setting the front door to a North Forest Avenue residence on fire Tuesday morning, police said.

A 45-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man were sleeping in the second-floor bedroom when they heard a loud noise. Their two vehicles, a 2018 Porsche and a 2014 Dodge, were engulfed in flames, authorities said.

The victims exited the home and an unknown person had set fire to the door, police said.

An investigation by Rockville Centre police with the assistance of the Freeport police, led to Courtien's arrest at the intersection of Guy Lombardo Avenue and Polk Street in Freeport, police said.

He is charged with second-degree arson, two counts of third-degree arson and four counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.