UTICA, N.Y. — A 37-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to set fire to a convenience store in Utica on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
Utica Police were dispatched at approximately 1:55 p.m. on July 1 to a store at the intersection of Kemble Street and Hobart Street after receiving a report of an attempted arson.
Store employees told officers they had received a warning call stating that someone was on the way to harm them and set the building on fire. Shortly afterward, a suspect arrived carrying a gas can and entered the store.
According to police, the man poured gasoline onto the store counter and attempted to ignite it but was unsuccessful. He was then chased out of the store by employees and fled on foot.
While officers were still investigating at the scene, the store received information at around 3:10 p.m. that the suspect was inside another store on Eagle Street. Officers responded and located Aziz Nagi, 37, of Utica, and took him into custody.
Nagi was transported to the Utica Police Department, where he was charged. Authorities have not yet released the formal charges filed.
A Utica man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly pouring gasoline inside a convenience store and attempting to set it on fire.