Suspect sets building on fire during hours-long barricade situation in Brooklyn: police
BROOKLYN (WABC) -- A suspect has been taken into custody after an hours-long barricade situation in Brooklyn on Thursday, police said.
Police responded to 2204 Fulton Street at 3:49 p.m. for reports of a dispute between two people.
One of the individuals involved fled the scene and the other person, a male, barricaded himself inside the building with a sharp object, which witnesses say was a machete.
Police had to saw through a lock to get access to the man holed up inside, but by then, it was too late. Police say within seconds, the man that was barricaded inside, ignited a fire around 6:45 p.m. and a choking black smoke started climbing out of the basement.
Firefighters climbed an FDNY ladder truck to get above the blaze, but the fire climbed faster.
They broke out windows from outside and inside the building to let the smoke vent, but in the end, the building, and two adjacent buildings had to be evacuated.
Police tried to pierce the dark smoke with flashlights to show the way, while some residents carried children from their homes.
Medics took one man away on a gurney who neighbors identify as the person who barricaded himself in the basement after the confrontation with the machete.
According to the FDNY, one firefighter suffered an injury, along with the arson suspect.
The suspect was taken into custody and transported to One Brooklyn Health-Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center.
The fire was placed under control around 7:35 p.m., FDNY officials said.
The investigation is ongoing.
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