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Man Who Set Fire to East Harlem Deli Arrested, Police Say

By Gustavo Solis | December 12, 2014 1:26pm
Saied Deli Fire
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The NYPD

EAST HARLEM — A petty crook caught on video setting fire to a deli was arrested Thursday and charged with arson, police said.

Victor Lide, 36, was seen on tape on Nov. 17 pouring gasoline into the after-hours window of the 108 E. 125th St. shop then setting it ablaze and running away, according to the NYPD.

He had an argument with a clerk earlier that day.

The fire destroyed most of the deli’s inventory and the shop was closed for two weeks. It reopened Dec. 1 after renovations, according to Sammy M., a friend of the owner's family.

Sammy previously told DNAinfo New York the suspect hangs out in the area and has a reputation for getting in arguments.

Lide has “an extremely long history” of more than 50 arrests since 1998, including for shoplifting, public drinking and an NYPD spokesman said. He has six cases currently pending in Manhattan Criminal Court.

He was charged with two counts of arson in the latest arrest, according to the criminal complaint.

Lide was being held at Rikers Island on $15,000 bail as of Friday. He is due in Manhattan Criminal Court Dec. 16, records show.