The arrest was announced on Sunday, May 31, following the fire at Red Hook High School on Friday, May 29.
According to Red Hook Police, the fire began around 10:15 a.m. on Friday, when a student told the school resource officer about a possible fire in a first-floor boys' bathroom.
The officer responded and saw smoke coming from the bathroom. Moments later, the fire alarm activated, and students and staff began evacuating the building.
Two other Red Hook police officers responded and tried to enter the bathroom to find and extinguish the fire, but heavy black smoke prevented them from getting inside, police said. Officers then updated 911 about conditions inside the school.
Red Hook firefighters arrived within minutes and found the fire in the bathroom. Officials said the flames did not spread to surrounding areas, and the fire was fully extinguished by 10:45 a.m.
As previously reported by Daily Voice, students were moved to Linden Avenue Middle School and dismissed early for the day at 11:15 a.m. while crews ventilated smoke and evaluated the building.
The Dutchess County fire investigation team determined the fire was caused by human intervention, prompting Red Hook Police to launch a criminal investigation.
On Saturday, May 30, at around 2:45 p.m., police arrested the 16-year-old boy, who is from Red Hook. He was charged with third-degree arson and first-degree reckless endangerment, both felonies.
The teen, whose name was not made public, was arraigned in Red Hook Town Court and released to a parent’s custody pending a future court appearance.
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