Arson Suspect Strikes New York Firefighter at Blaze

PORT HENRY, N.Y. -- Officials say one firefighter was struck as an arson suspect drove his car through fire lines while Mountain Lake Services' Port Henry offices burned.

The former worker at the organization for the developmentally disabled, Joseph P. King, 43, of Port Henry, was arrested by State Police on multiple counts, with charges of arson of a structure and a motor vehicle pending.

King, who'd been fired from his job in 2008, allegedly attempted to run down firefighters outside the burning three-story brick building housing Mountain Lake offices on Main Street until the Essex County Sheriff's Department and State Police used a felony-vehicle-stop procedure to box him in.

'YANKED HIM OUT'

Officials said King had driven through the fire scene at about midnight Sunday, running over hoses and ladders, and shouting, "Merry fire, f---ers!" from the open window of his car.

Sheriff's Department Major David Reynolds said deputies at the fire pursued King when he came back for another pass.

When King turned around on Broad Street by Moriah Central School, Deputy Erin MacDougal used a car to intercept the man's vehicle, Reynolds said.

"She attempted to pull him over with lights and siren. He wouldn't pull over."

As they proceeded back down Broad Street hill toward the fire, Deputy William Allen drove his car across the road, blocking King's car. MacDougal pulled in behind King so he couldn't back up, and a State Police car cut him off to the side.

King would not get out of his vehicle, Reynolds said, and the deputies and two troopers had to remove him through the window.

"Between the four of them, they yanked him out."

King had driven through the firefighting operation on Main Street and narrowly missed four firefighters, but a fifth was pinned between King's vehicle and an open vehicle door.

That man had a back injury but declined treatment, Essex County Emergency Services Director Donald Jaquish said.

His name was not released.

"I feel if the suspect had come back through, he would have struck firefighters," Jaquish said. "He was trying to stop us from fighting the fire."

REMAINED JAILED

King has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, with a blood alcohol content of at least .18, more than twice the legal limit; five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment; and one count each of obstruction of firefighting operations and fourth-degree criminal mischief because he allegedly damaged a ladder by driving over it.

He remained in Essex County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bail-bond. A mental-health watch had been placed on King, so even if his bail were paid, he could not be released without psychiatric approval.

'IMPRESSIVE EFFORT'

In addition to the fire on Main Street, a van owned by the agency was set ablaze in its Rice Lane parking lot. Its gas tank exploded, but no firefighters were hurt.

Windows in a second van were smashed, but flammable materials thrown inside burned out, as did those used to try to set the agency's gas pumps in the parking lot on fire.

The agency's headquarters at the Helen F. McDonald Center at 10 St. Patrick's Place in Port Henry were also broken into, State Police said.

Someone forcibly entered the administrative offices and attempted to start three separate fires in the break room and conference room, they said.

One of those fires was in an artificial Christmas tree, but it failed to catch, said Elizabeth Rutkowski, assistant director of community and staff relations for Mountain Lake Services.

"There was an arson attempt, but there was no fire at 10 St. Patrick's Place," she said Tuesday. "Kudos to the volunteers. It (the firefighting effort) was impressive and wonderful."

WORKSHOP MOVED

Rutkowski said the agency has moved its Home-Based Support and Services Office from Main Street to other buildings.

"We've relocated within our own agency. There's been no interruption of services. We have contingency plans for situations like this."

The Mountain Weavers Fiber Arts Guild, a sheltered workshop at the Main Street location, was also able to relocate to another agency site.

Rutkowski said they haven't decided yet if they will repair the damaged building.

"It was an impressive old building. We're assessing the damage. The (insurance) adjuster is there now."

The agency, which has about 500 employees throughout Essex County, had seven years of records stored in the third and attic floors of the Main Street building, which is part of the Sagan Block.

"We've been assessing the records and seeing what's damaged," Rutkowski said.

The paper records had smoke and water damage from the fire.

State Police at Lewis are asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 873-2750.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service