BRUTUS, NY - A 56-year-old New York man is facing felony arson charges, among other criminal allegations, after authorities claim the suspect set fire to the inside of the vehicle he was riding as a passenger in while State Police troopers were conducting a traffic stop earlier in April. During the alleged arson incident, authorities claim two other passengers were inside the vehicle.
On April 10 at approximately 1:30 a.m., a New York State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle allegedly traveling eastbound in the wrong lane along Ryan Road in Brutus. During the stop, a rear seat passenger, later identified as 56-year-old Douglas H. Wilson, was instructed by the trooper to show his hands.
Authorities claim Wilson defied the order, instead allegedly reaching for something on the vehicle floorboard before the rear seat became engulfed in flames. Wilson and the two other passengers exited the vehicle and were subsequently detained while troopers tended to the fire set inside the vehicle.
Upon extinguishing the fire, authorities say troopers recovered approximately two grams of suspected crack cocaine along with drug paraphernalia such as a torch lighter and a makeshift “smoking device with residue,” according to local reports.
Wilson was taken into custody without further incident, and authorities stated that no injuries stemmed from the incident. He has since been charged with fourth-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment, and second-degree obstruction.
State Police spokesperson Trooper Lynnea Crane confirmed the driver, who has not been publicly identified, was not criminally charged in connection with the incident. Wilson was processed at a local station following his arrest and was subsequently released from custody, with troopers issuing Wilson a notice to appear ticket for a later date at the Town of Brutus Court.
On April 10 at approximately 1:30 a.m., a New York State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle allegedly traveling eastbound in the wrong lane along Ryan Road in Brutus. During the stop, a rear seat passenger, later identified as 56-year-old Douglas H. Wilson, was instructed by the trooper to show his hands.
Authorities claim Wilson defied the order, instead allegedly reaching for something on the vehicle floorboard before the rear seat became engulfed in flames. Wilson and the two other passengers exited the vehicle and were subsequently detained while troopers tended to the fire set inside the vehicle.
Upon extinguishing the fire, authorities say troopers recovered approximately two grams of suspected crack cocaine along with drug paraphernalia such as a torch lighter and a makeshift “smoking device with residue,” according to local reports.
Wilson was taken into custody without further incident, and authorities stated that no injuries stemmed from the incident. He has since been charged with fourth-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment, and second-degree obstruction.
State Police spokesperson Trooper Lynnea Crane confirmed the driver, who has not been publicly identified, was not criminally charged in connection with the incident. Wilson was processed at a local station following his arrest and was subsequently released from custody, with troopers issuing Wilson a notice to appear ticket for a later date at the Town of Brutus Court.
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