Release # 172-2014 www.queensda.org DISTRICT ATTORNEY QUEENS COUNTY 125-01 QUEENS BOULEVARD KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK 11415-1568 718-286-6000 RICHARD A. BROWN DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014 CONTACT: PRESS OFFICE (718) 286-6315 ASTORIA MAN CHARGED WITH ARSON FOR SETTING FIRE TO SIX VEHICLES – INCLUDING A POLICE CAR Allegedly Caused Charring and Damage To Rear Of Vehicles Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that an Astoria, Queens, man has been charged with trying to torch half a dozen vehicles – including a marked police vehicle – in the Elmhurst area yesterday by stuffing a rag in each of the vehicles’ gas tanks and setting it on fire. District Attorney Brown said, “The defendant is charged with damaging six vehicles by stuffing a rag in each of the vehicles’ gas tanks and setting it ablaze. These incidents should not be viewed as a prank. Arson is a serious crime that will be dealt with accordingly.” The District Attorney identified the defendant as Miguel Ramos, 23, of 23rd Street in the Astoria section of Queens. Ramos is presently awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on a criminal complaint charging him with three-counts of third-degree criminal mischief and six counts of fourth-degree arson. If convicted, Ramos faces up to four years in prison. District Attorney Brown said that, according to the criminal complaint, Ramos was observed in front of 42-02 Layton Street at approximately 6:30 a.m. on December 3, 2014, placing a darkcolored rag into the gas tank of a Honda Passport and lighting the rag on fire. Ramos was then allegedly observed walking a few doors down and placing another dark rag into the gas tank of a white Nissan and lighting the rag on fire. It is additionally charged that when police arrived at the scene, they observed the fiery rags hanging from the two vehicles and charring and damage to the gas tanks and rears of the vehicles. In conducting a search of the surrounding blocks for other vehicles that may have been targeted, police allegedly discovered four additional vehicles with dark rags hanging from the gas tanks and that had similarly sustained charring and damage to their rears. The vehicles included a black Volvo in front of 42-02 Layton Street, a gold Chevrolet and a black Audi in front of 81-03 Baxter Avenue and a marked police car in front of 79-01 Broadway. The investigation was conducted by detectives assigned to the New York City Police Department’s 110th Precinct Detective Squad, the Arson and Explosion Squad and the New York City Fire Department’s Bureau of Fire Investigations. It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. # Note to Editors: Press release e-version posted at www.queensda.org