Suffolk Police Announce Three Central Islip Volunteer Firefighters Arrested for Arson
Central Islip, NY - March 14, 2018 - Suffolk County Police arrested three volunteer firefighters on Monday, March 12 for setting fires in Central Islip and Hauppauge during a four-month span.
Following an investigation by Arson Section detectives, with the assistance of the Central Islip Fire Department, Austin Lehman, Stephen Hernandez and Shawn Key were arrested in connection with fires intentionally set at abandoned houses between October and January. All three are members of the Central Islip Fire Department. No one was injured in any of the fires.
The three were charged in connection with fires at:
- 82 Gates Ave. in Central Islip on October 21 at approximately 6 a.m.
- 104 Vanderbilt Ave. in Central Islip on October 24 at approximately 5:20 a.m.
- 173 Gibbs Road in Central Islip on November 7 at approximately 5:50 a.m.
- 43 Oakdale Ave. in Central Islip on November 22 at approximately 2:20 a.m.
- 475 Bridge Road in Hauppauge on January 14 at approximately 3:40 a.m.
Hernandez, 25, of Central Islip, and Lehman, 19, of Central Islip, were charged with five counts of Arson 3rd Degree for their involvement in all five fires. Key, 27, of North Babylon, was charged with Arson 3rd Degree for the fire on November 22.
The three were scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on March 13.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.