Man Set Fire That Destroyed Garage, Damaged Apartment In Capital Region, Police Say

A 61-year-old man is accused of intentionally starting a fire that destroyed a garage and heavily damaged an apartment building in the region.

Paul Coleman, age 61, is accused of intentionally starting a fire that destroyed a garage and damaged an apartment building in the Town of Grafton in June 2023.
Photo Credit: *Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office/Canva via Bryan Mierzwik*

Michael Mashburn

06/14/2023 10:00 a.m.

Rensselaer County resident Paul Coleman, of the Town of Grafton, was arraigned on an arson charge in Rensselaer County Court on Friday, June 9.

According to sheriff’s officials, Coleman set fire to the detached garage located next to his apartment building on State Route 2 in the Town of Grafton. The structure was deemed a total loss.

Flames also spread to the adjacent apartment building, where eight residents were sleeping, deputies said. Everyone evacuated the building and there were no reports of injuries.

Coleman was arrested following an investigation by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office along with the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety Fire Investigation Team.

He is charged with:

Third-degree arson (felony)
First-degree reckless endangerment (felony)

Following his arraignment in Grafton Town Court, Coleman was ordered jailed without bail.

The judge also issued a protection order on behalf of everyone who was inside the apartment during the fire.

Investigators asked anyone with information in the case to contact the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office at 518-270-0128.

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