Man Accused of Setting Fire To House During Quarrel

CORTLANDT, NY — A 30-year-old Cortlandt man is accused of trying to burn down a house with victims inside on Wednesday, during what New York State police called a domestic incident.

Police said after having been locked out, Michal Trestka leaned a mattress up against the house on Redmill Road and set fire to it. He left as the victims were calling 911, police said.

He was found driving on the Sprain Brook Parkway a little while later by the Westchester County Police.

When he was arrested, police allege a small amount of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD/Acid) was found in his possession.

Trestka faces charges of Arson in the 2nd degree, a class B felony; Reckless Endangerment in the 1st degree, a class D felony; Menacing in the 2nd degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th degree, all class A misdemeanors.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., Troopers were dispatched by Westchester County 911 to Redmill Road for a report of a domestic incident in the town of Cortlandt. Investigation determined that Michal Trestka during the course of the domestic incident became locked out of the residence and set fire to a mattress he leaned up against the building in an attempt to burn the house with the victims inside. When Trestka saw 911 was being contacted he fled the scene.

Trestka was arraigned before the town of Cortlandt Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail of $10,000 secure bond. He is next scheduled to appear before the court on Monday.

State police from the Cortlandt barracks also had assistance from troopers in Hawthorne.