MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) — A man is under arrest after NYPD officers and the bomb squad swarmed a U-Haul truck in Midtown Manhattan.<\/p>\n
It happened around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday on East 23rd Street<\/a> in Midtown.<\/p>\n Sources told Eyewitness News the unoccupied truck was wanted in connection to arson cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It appeared the truck was abandoned.<\/p>\n NYPD officials say ESU and the bomb squad both responded to the scene.<\/p>\n The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Sean McDermott of East Moriches.<\/p>\n He was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal criminal possession of a controlled substance, and unlawfully possessing or selling noxious materials.<\/p>\n Police said McDermott was in possession of nitrous oxide, AKA laughing gas, at the time of his arrest.<\/p>\n He was wanted for lighting multiple fires in his home in the Poconos Monday in what he said was an attempt to kill spiders. McDermott stated that he needed to kill the spiders within the residence. McDermott had a smoldering fire going on the floor and then placed a love seat on top of the fire.<\/p>\n A witness told police “he kept putting the fires out and McDermott kept lighting them.”<\/p>\n He stated both he and McDermott left the home and went to different locations. They both arrived back to find the townhome engulfed in flames. McDermott then fled the scene in a U-Haul truck.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * Get Eyewitness News Delivered<\/a> <\/p>\n * More Manhattan news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Follow us on YouTube<\/a> <\/p>\n
.
The fire that originated at McDermott’s Pocono Pines, Pa., home “also consumed three other connecting townhomes.”<\/p>\n
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News<\/p>\n