West Haverstraw, NY — A 72-year-old man from West Haverstraw was arraigned in Rockland County Court on a slew of serious charges, including multiple counts of attempted murder and arson, following an early morning fire in a multi-family residence earlier this month.
German Santiago, a resident of 52 Blauvelt Avenue, was indicted on 11 counts each of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Arson in the Second Degree, along with charges of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today.
According to court filings and statements made in court, the incident occurred around 5 a.m. on August 1, 2025, when Santiago allegedly set fire to a mattress near the entrance of the building in which he resided. The property housed 12 tenants, including three children under the age of 16.
Tenants reportedly awoke to a loud noise and encountered smoke and flames. One witness stated they observed Santiago pouring a substance on the mattress before fleeing the scene. The Town of Haverstraw Police Department responded quickly and played a critical role in extinguishing the fire.
No injuries were reported, but authorities say the situation could have ended tragically if not for the swift actions of first responders and the alertness of the residents.
“This case involves an extremely serious threat to the lives of innocent people, including children,” said District Attorney Walsh. “We commend the work of law enforcement and our prosecutors in bringing this case forward.”
Santiago faces a potential sentence ranging from 10 to 25 years in state prison if convicted on the top charges. The case is being prosecuted by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon.
The investigation was led by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department, with support from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
As always, the charges remain accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.