Police Commissioner Thomas R. Sofield, Sr., of the Long Beach Police Department announced the arrest of Robert Ruland, 19 of Belle Harbor, Queens. Mr. Ruland was arrested for an arson that was committed on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.
On Wednesday morning at 12:45 a.m., the Long Beach Police Department received a call of a car fire in front of 122 Harding Drive, Long Beach. An investigation by the Long Beach Police Department Detectives and Officers on the scene deemed the fire suspicious. The Nassau County Police Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad, and Fire Marshall Bureau were notified immediately. They responded without delay and aided in the investigation.
Detective Lieutenant Vincent Buscemi, Commanding Officer the Long Beach Detective Division stated, “Early in the investigation Mr. Ruland became a suspect. From the beginning there were inconsistencies regarding his involvement with the Arson, and after a thorough investigation we were able to gather enough evidence to charge Mr. Ruland with Arson 3rd Degree, which is a class “C” felony.”
Mr. Ruland was arraigned in Long Beach City Court before Judge Tepper, who set bail at $5,000.00.
