UTICA, N.Y. — A 30-year-old man has been charged with arson and related offenses after allegedly setting fire to a Devereux Street apartment and damaging a nearby building earlier this week, Utica Police said Wednesday.
The incident occurred on December 2 at approximately 7:40 p.m., when police and firefighters were dispatched to 37 Devereux Street for a reported fire. Upon arrival, officers encountered a naked man fleeing from the second-floor apartment where the fire was believed to have started. He was immediately detained, and Utica Fire Department personnel extinguished the flames.
The apartment sustained extensive damage, and investigators concluded that the fire had been intentionally set by the occupant, identified as Khadeem Joseph of Utica. Further investigation revealed that Joseph had also intentionally caused damage to another building on Charlotte Street before entering the Devereux Street property.
Due to concerns about his mental state, Joseph was taken to Wynn Hospital for a mental health evaluation following the incidents. After being released from the hospital on December 4, he was taken into custody by Utica Police and formally charged.
The charges against Joseph include arson and criminal mischief, among others. No injuries were reported in connection to the fire or the earlier building damage.