Resident's Teen Son Charged in Chapin Fire

By Steven Roberts

Suffolk County police have made an arrest in connection with the August 23 fire at Stony Brook University. The fire damaged one of the Chapin apartments on Health Science Drive. The suspect is a 13-year-old child of a resident and could not be identified by police because he is a minor.

“His mother was staying on campus,” said Detective Sergeant Edward Fitzgerald of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Arson Taskforce. Fitzgerald said that the suspect turned himself in. Fitzgerald said the suspect had admitted to the fires and given a statement to detectives.

The teen was charged with one count of fourth degree arson, an E felony. Fourth degree arson is defined as when a person recklessly damages a building or motor vehicle by intentionally starting a fire or causing an explosion. Persons found guilty of an E class felony will usually be sentenced to no more than 5 years, with no less than 1 year of this sentence served in prison.

“He is a minor, so the matter will be adjudicated through the family court system,” said Fitzgerald. The suspect was released to the custody of his parents. He will have to appear in family court at a later date.

According to the police report, the fire caused significant damage to the apartments. Residents were evacuated from the building and no injuries were reported. The Chapin Apartments house graduate students, while also accommodating housing for married couples, domestic relationships and families.

Twenty-two people were displaced as a result of the fire. “Students were moved to Schomburg, Chapin and the West Apartments,” said Chapin Quad Director Qin Wang.