Man charged with setting string of New York City hotel fires

[hrmjustin]

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A New Jersey man is under arrest on charges of setting a string of fires at New York City hotels where he worked as a security employee.

Fire marshals arrested 30-year old security manager Mariano Barbosa Jr. of Union City Saturday, and charged him with setting eight fires over the last four years at two different hotels.

Some guests at the Yotel in Midtown were disgusted when they learned of the allegations. Fire marshals say that over the last three years, Barbosa set five fires on higher floors, 17-24.

"Why would he want to do arson? To get out of work?" said tourist Jamie Sonnex.

Read more at http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9256812

[Warpy]

1. No, to be a hero

That's the surprising motivation behind a sizable minority of arson fires.

I'm just glad they discovered the pattern and got him out of the hotel security business and with luck, off the street. Hotel fires can get out of control quickly and get really nasty, especially on upper floors in older buildings.

[hrmjustin]

2. Agreed.