Cops: Coram restaurant owner charged with arson

A Coram restaurant owner was arrested Thursday and charged with arson in connection with a fire set at his own restaurant and adjoining stores in January 2009, police said.

Michael Massian, 26, of College Road in Selden, the owner of Apizza Italy at 1879 Rte. 112, was to be arraigned Friday on a charge of first degree arson in First District Court, Central Islip.

Bryan Vite, 22, of Ridge, was arrested June 24, 2009, Suffolk police said, also in connection with the case.

Three separate fires were set the night of Jan. 13, 2009, in the kitchen of Apizza Italy in the Handy Pantry Shopping Center, police said, likely caused by splashing fuel when a homemade bomb hit the floor. There were no injuries.