Authorities say 26-year-old Edreese Pazandeh poured gasoline on a flower pot and lit it on fire outside the 109th Precinct in Flushing around 9:15 p.m.
Officers responded and arrested the suspect a few blocks away. He was reportedly found with flammable liquid on him.
Police officers were able to extinguish the fire.
A marked police car was damaged either in the fire or in the process of putting the fire out.
There was also a backpack left behind, as well, which turned out to have nothing in it.
The streets around the precinct are back open after being closed for the early part of the overnight hours.
Pazandeh is charged with arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a weapon.
