Brooklyn Man Who Lit Three Separate Car Fires Arrested, FDNY Says

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — Fire officials and NYPD detectives investigating three different car fires in Brooklyn over the last three months found that the same man had set them all, FDNY said Thursday.

Jonathan Perez, 28, was charged with third-degree arson, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief for the three fires, the most recent of which happened last week.

Perez first lit a box truck on fire in front of 1150 Metropolitan Avenue and then ignited a Fiat in front of 37 Driggs Avenue between March and May.

Then, on May 12, he broke into a Hyundai Sonata near 190 Nassau Avenue and lit the interior of the car on fire. The whole car became engulfed in flames and Perez ran away, police said.

“Arson is a dangerous criminal act that shows no regard for the safety and well-being of FDNY members and the people and property we are sworn to protect,” Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said. “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our Fire Marshals in the Auto Fraud Squad, the suspect wanted for this senseless act has been apprehended.”

FDNY members and NYPD detectives found Perez when they started interviewing witnesses, canvassing the area and looking for surveillance video after each car fire, officials said.

After the most recent fire, Perez was caught on surveillance video in a bodega shortly after the crime.

Perez was on parole for a previous robbery arrest when he was taken into custody in his home for the arson charges, officials said. Records show that he has 10 prior arrests, including eight felonies and two misdemeanors. He had been released from jail for the robbery arrest in 2017.