The 45-year-old is charged with pouring gasoline about the home where he rented a room and then setting a small fire.
The Central Islip Fire Department extinguished the blaze without incident just before midnight Friday.
Police say Rios fled the scene and turned up at his sister's house reeking of fuel, wielding a knife and acting irrationally.
He was in custody awaiting arraignment on Saturday. It wasn't clear who his attorney would be.
NEW YORK AND TRI-STATE AREA NEWS
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