Man Accused Of Stealing Car, Setting It On Fire

YORKTOWN, NY — A car fire led to the arrest of a Briarcliff man in Yorktown. Police said Michael J. Novelli, 26, of Briarcliff, was charged with third-degree arson and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, felonies, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

Police said several 911 calls were received shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday from people living on Baldwin Road reporting a car on fire in the woods.

Yorktown police and Yorktown Heights firefighters responded and found a fully involved car fire.

The vehicle was found to be stolen out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, police said, and was intentionally set on fire.

Police began searching the area, while, at the same time, other officers were conducting all-terrain vehicle training in the wooded area behind police headquarters.

After hearing about the search, the officers doing the training began driving toward the the car fire and came upon a man walking in the woods who had visible burns on his hands and arms.

The man was detained and later identified as Novelli.

Police said he was driving the vehicle which was stolen from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport two days earlier.

Novelli set the car on fire before leaving the scene, and police said, he was in possession of heroin when he was arrested.

He was processed at Yorktown Police Headquarters where he was issued three appearance tickets and released on his own recognizance.

Novelli is schedule to appear in Yorktown Justice Court Aug. 6.

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