After argument, Hempstead man tossed burning paper towels into man's bedroom, police say

Hempstead police have arrested a man who they said tossed burning paper towels into the home of another man with whom he had just argued Monday night, setting fire to a bed and blanket, and endangering three young children who were there.

Jacksin Rouzard, 26, of Lent Avenue in Hempstead, was arraigned on charges of second-degree arson, second-degree burglary, reckless endangerment and second-degree menacing in First District Court in Hempstead. He was held on $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash and is due back in court Thursday, said a spokesman for acting Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Rouzard was represented by the Legal Aid Society, which does not comment on cases.

On Monday night, Nassau police said, Rouzard had tried to incinerate the home of a 46-year-old man with whom he had a dispute in Jamaican Restaurant on Main Street in Hempstead. Rouzard had pulled out a knife and threatened the victim's life, said police, who arrived on the scene after the suspect had left.

Shortly after that, police received a call to respond to the victim's home, where they said Rouzard had tossed a burning roll of paper towels onto a bed through an open window, sparking fires that were extinguished by a woman who lives in the home. Police said three children ranging in age from 2 to 6 years old were in the home. Hempstead officers arrested Rouzard at about 10:30 p.m.