Man Arrested After Arson Investigation: Police

HOLBROOK, NY – A St. James man has been charged in several attempted arsons over the past several weeks, Suffolk Police said.

During an investigation into several arson cases in Riverhead Town, Suffolk County Arson Section detectives and Major Case Unit detectives developed information about John Cayamanda, a suspect in the arsons, including that he would be at the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road Station Wednesday morning, police said.

While attempting to arrest Cayamanda, he fled the train station on foot, leading to a pursuit by Fourth and Fifth Precinct officers and Canine Unit officers, police said. Cayamanda was apprehended a short time later around noon on Avis Drive in Holbrook.

Detectives determined Cayamanda attempted to set a Chevrolet pickup truck on fire on Sweezy Avenue in Riverhead on March 1; left a combustible item in a driveway on Sweezy Avenue in Riverhead on March 21; and threw a combustible item at an unmarked Suffolk County Police car on the same road on April 6, police said.

Cayamanda is also being investigated in connection to recent incidents in Setauket and Centereach, police said.

Cayamanda, 43, was charged with first degree attempted assault, two counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon and first degree attempted arson. He was held at the Fourth Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.