Arson Arrest in Fire at Vestal Apartment Complex

A 25-year-old man has been accused of setting a fire that resulted in the evacuation of a massive apartment complex in Vestal.

Authorities say Elijah Rodriguez of Lenoia, New Jersey, has been charged with second-degree arson, a felony.

Vestal police say Rodriguez is believed to have intentionally started a fire in an occupied building at the University Plaza Apartments on the Vestal Parkway East.

Town police officers and firefighters evacuated the entire apartment complex after the blaze was reported around 2:30 p.m. on October 20.

Officials say there were no injuries linked to the fire, which was quickly extinguished.

Investigators say Rodriguez was arrested on Thursday. He was arraigned in Vestal town court and returned to Broome County Jail where he was being held on an unrelated charge.

Vestal police detectives were assisted by the Binghamton Police Department, the United States Marshal Service, the Vestal Fire Department and Broome County fire investigators.

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