David J. Thompson (New York State Police)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — A Cortland man has been charged with arson after he allegedly attempted to start a fire inside a Dunkin' Donuts store in Cortlandville.
At around 9 p.m. Monday, state troopers in Homer were dispatched to the Walmart on Bennie Road in the town of Cortlandville for a reported theft. When police arrived at the store, witnesses said that the man fled on a bicycle.
A short time later, troopers were called to a fire that was believed to be deliberately set inside the Dunkin Donuts at 927 Tompkins Street.
A description of the suspect matched that of the man who fled from Walmart, police said.
After an investigation, police determined that the fire was "of an incendiary nature with no accidental cause present in the area," police said in a news release.
The suspect was identified as 28-year-old David J. Thompson, of Cortland. He was arraigned on charges of second-degree arson, a felony, and petit larceny, in Cortlandville Town Court.
Thompson was remanded to the Cortland County Jail without bail. A felony hearing is scheduled for June 15.
