Long Island landlord charged with arson amid tenant dispute

WESTBURY -- Police say a Long Island landlord started a gas fire in his home amid tensions with his tenants.

Daswell Anderson, who lives in the basement and had been quarreling with a family that rents the ground floor, was arrested on charges of arson and reckless endangerment.

Police say the tenants heard the 69-year-old Anderson banging on pipes in the basement Sunday night, smelled gas and fled. Uniondale firefighters arrived at the Warren Street home in Westbury around 10:30 p.m. to find the blaze. They extinguished the fire and shut off leaking gas. Investigators believe Anderson's activities with the pipes caused the leak.

No injuries were reported.

Anderson was located in the basement, transported to a local hospital and, after an investigation, taken into custody.