Suffolk County Police today arrested a Bronx man for assault, multiple arsons, an attempted robbery and burglary that occurred this month.
Willi Soto-Reyes set fire to a vehicle at B.MA. Specialists, located at 908 Long Island Ave. in Deer Park, which spread to four other vehicles on June 19 at approximately 3:45 a.m. Soto-Reyes then stole a 2001 BMW from the location and drove to a home on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park and stabbed a known person at approximately 5 a.m. The victim was treated and released from Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip.
Soto-Reyes fled from the assault in the BMW and crashed the vehicle into a tree on Long Island Avenue in Wyandanch at 5:11 a.m. Responding officers arrested him at the scene.
An investigation by First Squad and Arson Section detectives determined that Soto-Reyes was also responsible for multiple fires, a burglary and attempted robbery in Wyandanch and Deer Park on June 6.
Soto-Reyes, 25, of 635 Morris Ave., was charged with Burglary 3rd Degree, Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Assault 2nd Degree, Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, two counts of Arson 2nd Degree, two counts of Arson 3rd Degree, four counts of Arson 4th Degree and five counts of Arson 5th Degree. He will be held overnight at the First Precinct for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on June 20.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Below is the original release.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police First Squad and Arson Section detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who set multiple fires, burglarized a business and attempted to rob a gas station earlier this month.
A man intentionally set fire to a vehicle on Long Island Avenue in Wyandanch, a fence on Grand Boulevard in Wyandanch, a boat on Lake Avenue in Deer Park, a flag on West 22nd Street in Deer Park and a flag on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park between 2:54 a.m. and 6:33 a.m. on June 6. Also during that time, the man burglarized and set fire to a business, located at 10 Station Drive in Wyandanch, and attempted to rob an employee at, and set fire to, Sunoco, located at 1580 Straight Path in Wyandanch.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting “SCPD” and your message to “CRIMES” (274637) or by email at www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.