Man allegedly set fires in home to kill spiders, left U-Haul in Midtown sparking bomb squad scare
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man wanted for allegedly setting his Pennsylvania home on fire in an attempt to kill spiders, was arrested in New York City after getting into a hit-and-run crash and abandoning his U-Haul truck.
The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Sean McDermott of East Moriches.
Authorities say McDermott had started a fire in his townhome in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania on Monday evening, in what he said was an attempt to kill spiders within the residence.
The fire that originated at McDermott's home "also consumed three other connecting townhomes."
McDermott had a smoldering fire going on the floor and then placed a love seat on top of the fire.
Before it got to this point, Pocono Mountain Regional Police Chief Chris Wagner told Eyewitness News that hours earlier, McDermott was in the home with a friend who tried to stop the 36-year-old suspect.
The friend told police, "he kept putting the fires out, and McDermott kept lighting them."
He stated both he and McDermott left the home and went to different locations. They both arrived back to find the townhome engulfed in flames.
Volunteer firefighters spent eight hours battling the blaze.
Neighbors could not believe the damage. Inside the home are huge icicles, and a large hole in the ceiling over the fireplace where a holiday stocking still hangs.
McDermott then fled the scene in a U-Haul truck.
He made it nearly 100 miles east to Manhattan, and once there, police say he was involved in a hit-and-run at East 23rd Street and Madison Avenue around 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The suspect took off running, but was taken into custody.
NYPD officials say ESU and the bomb squad both responded to the scene.
Inside the truck, they say McDermott was in possession of nitrous oxide, AKA laughing gas, and some kind of liquid accelerant at the time of his arrest.
He was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and unlawfully possessing or selling noxious materials.
McDermott has four prior arrests in New York City, including one for assault in 2019.
After facing a judge in the city, he will be extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges, including arson.
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