Warwick arson: Middletown man pleads guilty after NY trooper allegedly set fire to childhood Orange County home as revenge

WARWICK, New York (WABC) — A man from Middletown allegedly destroyed the home of a New York state trooper’s father Tuesday in an act of revenge, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Authorities say 26-year-old Tyler Williams was pulled over by a police officer on December 20, 2023, and issued multiple traffic tickets. The next morning, a fire broke out at the soldier’s father’s home in Warwick, destroying it.

No one was harmed by the fire.

“Every day in America, police officers write countless traffic tickets, and that doesn’t result in drivers setting officers’ homes on fire in revenge,” said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The conduct admitted in this case is among the most despicable I have ever seen towards a police officer in my career.

The investigation revealed that just hours after the tickets were issued, Williams searched the internet for personal information about the police and discovered his childhood home, where his father still lives. Williams was arrested and charged a few days later.

Williams admitted that he deliberately set the fire in the house even though he knew or should have known that there were people in the house.

“This incident touched the hearts of every law enforcement officer and their families,” added Warwick Township Police Chief John Rader. “We are out there every day, serving and protecting our communities, and it is unconscionable that our lives and the lives of our families can be targeted in order to do our jobs.”

It is stated that Williams faces up to 20 years in prison.

His sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2025.

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