ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Police and firefighters are searching for a suspect seen on camera lighting fires in downtown Rochester.
The Rochester Fire Department said the suspect lit four fires on Jan. 10. The investigation has stalled as they have not yet identified the suspect.
Footage shows the person opening dumpster lids on Pindle Alley, followed by a fire breaking out moments later. The same day, the suspect lit another fire near Plymouth Avenue before returning to Pindle Alley to set a port-a-potty on fire.
“The suspect lit the first two fires of the day within minutes of each other,” said Lt. Howard Villegas, public information officer for the Rochester Fire Department. “It doesn’t seem like he was targeting anyone. It just seems to be, on its face, a random act of, you know, destruction. But whatever the motive may be, you never know where these things are going to head,” Villegas said.
Villegas said the suspect used cardboard and other trash to light the dumpster fire. The fire department added that a mattress was also set on fire, but no evidence of accelerants has been found.
Villegas also said while they don’t believe the suspect is a threat to anyone or the area, they are anxious to identify him since arson is a serious crime and one that can get out of control quickly.
If the suspect looks familiar or if anyone saw anything on Jan. 10 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., they are urged to call CrimeStoppers at 585 423-9300.
See more photos of the suspect below:
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