A Chinese man in Flushing was criminally charged with attempting to set fire to an auto repair shop in Long Island City in late January, including:Attempted arson and other crimes.
Ping Huang, 37, whose address is Flushing, attempted arson at Frontline Collision's auto repair shop at 51-27 35th Street in Long Island City's Blissville neighborhood on Jan. 29 before Queens Criminal Court on Feb. 6.
According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), three witnesses saw the Chinese man pouring gasoline in an attempt to set fire to the store. The three witnesses, all National Guard soldiers, worked that day at the Cityview Hotel, which is used as an immigrant shelter at 51-41 35th Street, next to the auto repair shop.
Jaslin Guzman and **sh Das, one of the three National Guard soldiers, saw Huang Ping pouring gasoline on the fence next to the garage and trying to burn it down, and they immediately stepped forward to stop it, while another National Guard soldier, Richard Miller, picked up a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Huang Ping immediately fled the scene in a silver Toyota Sienna. Guzmán and Das chased for a while to get his license plate information. Huang Ping was once caught up by Das, and he said to Das, ".The guy owes me money."
Guzmán obtained the arsonist's license plate number and provided it to the New York City Fire Department, and through the license plate information, the fire chief successfully identified Huang Ping as the perpetrator and called up the surveillance footage. The footage shows Huang Ping before setting the fireDrive around the block to a gas station and fill multiple containers with gasoline.
He then drove back to the garage, poured gasoline on the alley between the shop and the CityView Hotel shelter, and set it on fire.
According to the criminal indictment, Guzmán told investigators that she saw Huang Ping pour gasoline from the container onto the fence and then set the fence on fire, causing the fence** before Miller extinguished the fire.
Huang Ping quiltCharged with attempted arson, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and fifth-degree arson, who will return to court on April 9.