A Long Beach man was arrested for allegedly starting a fire that damaged three houses, including his own residency on Dec. 6.
Nelson A. Valerio was arrested and charged with second-degree arson for starting a fire at his home at 668 W. Broadway, Long Beach police officials said. The fire spread to the two neighboring houses causing structural damages. An investigation by the Nassau County Police Department's Arson Bomb Squad concluded that Valerio was a suspect.
Valerio, who was tranported to an area hospital for minor injuries, was in court on Dec. 11 and held on $250,000 cash bail and bond. Nassau County District Court Judge Robert Bogle ordered a psychiatric exam for Valerio, according to court documents.
Long Beach firefighters rushed to a house fire on Dec. 6 night where heavy smoke and flames could be seen from the 600 block of West Broadway, near the boardwalk.
Police and firefighters responded to the scene at 9:25 p.m., where Second Assistant Fire Chief Hadrick Ray called in a working fire from the rear of a home.