Suffolk PD: 3 volunteer firefighters charged with arson

<p>Suffolk police arrested three volunteer firefighters this week for allegedly starting fires in abandoned Central Islip and Hauppauge houses over a four-month span.</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 13, 2018, 4:50 PM

Updated 2,252 days ago

Share:

Suffolk police arrested three volunteer firefighters this week for allegedly starting fires in abandoned Central Islip and Hauppauge houses over a four-month span.
Investigators accuse Austin Lehman, Stephen Hernandez and Shawn Key of setting at least five houses on fire between October and January during early morning hours. Police say they turned around and helped put each of them out.
All three are members of the Central Islip Fire Department. Hernandez, 25, and Lehman, 19, both from Central Islip, face five counts each of third-degree arson. Key, a 27-year-old North Babylon resident, has been charged only in connection with the Nov. 22 fire at 43 Oakdale Ave. No one answered the doors of any of their homes when News 12 visited Tuesday.
The first happened at 82 Gates Ave. in Central Islip on Oct. 21. Then they allegedly lit up 104 Vanderbilt Ave. three days later. Lehman lives at 74 Vanderbilt Ave., according to police.
On Nov. 7, police say they set fire to 173 Gibbs Road. Then came the Oakdale Avenue fire on the day before Thanksgiving, and on Jan. 14, police say they moved into Hauppauge to strike at 475 Bridge Road.
Rich Vickers lives on Oakdale Avenue. He says his sister's surveillance camera captured a car pulling into the driveway 10 minutes before the fire.
"It only caught the bottom half of the guys," he says. "Two guys go around, left, then 10 minutes later it was fully engulfed."
No one was inside the homes at the times of the fires, police say, and no one was hurt.


More from News 12
0:20
Prosecutor: Lower Township woman arrested for death of her 6-month-old son

Prosecutor: Lower Township woman arrested for death of her 6-month-old son

1:57
Dry, warmer Monday in New Jersey; more rain on the way

Dry, warmer Monday in New Jersey; more rain on the way

0:27
Police: Motorcyclist killed in Egg Harbor Township crash

Police: Motorcyclist killed in Egg Harbor Township crash

0:15
Police: Multi-vehicle crash in Elizabeth leaves 5 people injured

Police: Multi-vehicle crash in Elizabeth leaves 5 people injured

2:46
Pro-Palestinian hunger strike at Princeton University marks 1 week

Pro-Palestinian hunger strike at Princeton University marks 1 week

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

Is your mom awesome? New Jersey tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? New Jersey tell us why your Mom Rocks!

1:39
Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

0:29
Authorities: 24-year-old man fatally shot in Jersey City

Authorities: 24-year-old man fatally shot in Jersey City

0:22
Montclair police: 2 people hurt in shooting near Mission Street and Bloomfield Avenue

Montclair police: 2 people hurt in shooting near Mission Street and Bloomfield Avenue

2:05
North Arlington garden center 'blooms' with business ahead of Mother's Day

North Arlington garden center 'blooms' with business ahead of Mother's Day

0:20
Authorities: Pennsylvania woman receives 2 consecutive life sentences for Ocean County murders

Authorities: Pennsylvania woman receives 2 consecutive life sentences for Ocean County murders

0:17
Police: Motorcyclist killed in Barnegat crash

Police: Motorcyclist killed in Barnegat crash

1:09
Newark charter school students learn financial literacy at Mother's Day market

Newark charter school students learn financial literacy at Mother's Day market

1:23
Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

2:03
Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

1:35
Prospect Park residents flock to North 16th Street for black bear sighting

Prospect Park residents flock to North 16th Street for black bear sighting

0:18
Authorities identify person killed in crash on Route 27 in Franklin Township

Authorities identify person killed in crash on Route 27 in Franklin Township

2:36
Piscataway fire chief accused of throwing mud and rocks on business owner's rare sports car

Piscataway fire chief accused of throwing mud and rocks on business owner's rare sports car

0:17
Prosecutor: Rochelle Park man accused of sexually assaulting child multiple times

Prosecutor: Rochelle Park man accused of sexually assaulting child multiple times