Teen Held in
Brooklyn Blaze That
Left One Dead,
Injured Two
Firefighters
NY Daily News
3/13/10
A 14-year-old boy
was collared Friday
for sparking a fatal
fire in Brooklyn
Wednesday, the Daily
News has learned.
The teen was
arrested after being
grilled by cops
about the 10:30 p.m.
Decatur St. blaze
that claimed the
life of Eddie Ortiz,
35, FDNY sources
said.
The boy, who lives
on the main floor of
the Ocean Hill
brownstone, had
originally told
investigators that
he saw an intruder
just before the
deadly inferno.
Before being taken
into custody, the
teen told The News
he heard a squeaking
noise in the back
room and saw a man
run downstairs and
vanish into the
night.
"I was going to
chase after him, but
then I smelled
smoke," he said.
The teen was charged
with second-degree
manslaughter,
reckless
endangerment and
arson.
Two of the victim's
relatives - Paco
Ortiz, 81, and Nydia
Ortiz, 41 - were
also injured in the
fire. Both are in
critical, but stable
condition at
Interfaith Medical
Center, officials
said.
