Cedarhurst man arraigned on charges he tried to burn apartment after being evicted
Fire at a fourth-floor apartment in Cedarhurst late Friday afternoon Jan. 16, 2015. Credit: Lou Minutoli
A Cedarhurst man pleaded not guilty Saturday to charges that he attempted to burn his apartment because he was being evicted.
Douglas Drummond, 53, was arraigned on second-degree arson charges at Nassau University Medical Center, where he was being treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.
Police said Drummond set eight fires in his apartment. Firefighters found the fourth-floor apartment ablaze and several other apartments in the 57-unit building suffered water damage.
A judge set Drummond's bond at $2 million or $1 million cash. He was also issued temporary restraining orders to stay away from two witnesses in the case.
Drummond is scheduled to return to Nassau First District Court on Wednesday.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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