ITHACA, N.Y. — Police have charged a Dryden man with felony arson after they say he intentionally lit a three-story duplex on fire early Wednesday morning.
Joshua Reeves, 31, was arrested around 12:07 p.m., charged with first-degree arson, and was arraigned in Ithaca City Court before being remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of posting $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. He’s still in jail as of Wednesday night.
The Ithaca Fire Department was called at 1:20 a.m. to a home at 120 Hudson Street where part of the home was already engulfed in flames when they arrived. Firefighters battled the blaze for two hours before getting it under control.
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Lieutenant Tom Basher, of the Ithaca Fire Department, said seven people were displaced in the fire and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Acting Police Chief Pete Tyler said in a news release, “I’m saddened this happened in our community, and I am thankful for the services from the Red Cross in assisting those who are displaced by this cowardly act. Investigating the origin and cause of a fire is tedious work, and I am thankful for the hard work of all of those who assisted in this investigation. Making an arrest less than 24 hours after the incident is a testament to the hard work by my officers and the great working relationships we share with other first responders in our community.”