SerpApi.Org
A Brooklyn man has been charged with setting a bus ablaze in Times Square following the Knicks' championship win.
According to law enforcement sources, 30-year-old Jonathan Strahs was taken into custody during a federal search warrant at his home at around 6:25 a.m. on July 20 after a joint investigation by the NYPD, ATF, and FDNY Fire Marshals.
Strahs had been wanted by police since June 14, following the Knicks' championship victory. During the early hours, thousands of fans gathered in and around Times Square in mass celebrations, including hundreds who commandeered and climbed school buses that were commissioned to transport soccer fans to the World Cup.
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Investigators with the NYPD and FDNY say that at around 2:47 a.m. on June 15, surveillance video allegedly caught Strahs entering one of the buses brought to a halt on West 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. He left the vehicle, and moments later, it went up in flames. Firefighters responded to the scene and doused the blaze.
FDNY sources report fire marshals conducted an extensive investigation and not only determined the blaze was set intentionally, but working with NYPD and ATF, they said they were able to use surveillance footage to identify the suspect as Strahs.
“This fire, set on a busy street during a night of celebration, put the lives of bystanders and first responders at risk. The work of our agencies has removed a dangerous individual from the streets of New York City and the FDNY will continue to work closely with our public safety partners to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “This arrest reflects the strength of our partnership with ATF and NYPD, and the diligence of our Fire Marshals in following the evidence through an extensive and complex investigation.”
Strahs was hit with federal charges including arson, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment, and will be prosecuted in the Southern District of New York.
