Wednesday, June 7th, 2006

Precious Metal Scavenger Arrested In Connection With Greenpoint Terminal Market Fire

Authorities have arrested a homeless man in connection with last month’s Greenpoint Terminal Market fire:

An arrest has been made in connection with that massive fire that destroyed a warehouse complex along the Brooklyn waterfront last month.

Investigators say the man arrested is homeless. Police sources tell NY1 that 59-year old Kuczera Leszek had been burning off insulation to strip copper from the building. He faces a number of charges, including arson and burglary.

The fire broke out on the morning of May 2nd in Greenpoint, eventually growing to 10 alarms. Seven warehouses burned for over 24 hours.

The owner had been working on a deal to develop the land. Others in the community had been looking to give the 19th century structure landmark status.

Although it seems like a pretty big fire for one guy to start, homeless metal scrap hunters are prevalent on the waterfront there, so who knows?

Backstory: That Was Some Fire; That Would Be Suspicious; Deny Everything!; Fuhgeddaboudit!.