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Suspect Arrested in String of Dumpster Fires 'Was Apparently Drinking'

By  Trevor Kapp and Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | December 16, 2015 5:47pm 

3 Dumpster Fires Spark Anxiety Amid Search for Forest Hills Fire Ninja
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NYPD

QUEENS — The man who was arrested in connection with a string of dumpster fires on Austin Street in Forest Hills, “was apparently drinking” when he set the blazes, police officials said.

Samer Shuaib, 36, who lives on nearby Fleet Street, was arrested Tuesday and charged with criminal mischief, arson and reckless endangerment after police said he set three "small debris fires" in less than 2 hours along Austin Street on Dec. 9, including one in front of the 112th Precinct station house, according to police and fire officials. 

Authorities said that they were able to track down Shuaib, who they said was born in Israel and has lived in the U.S. for 17 years, thanks to surveillance footage and help from local merchants.

“We did an extended video canvas that night where we had several images of that individual walking away,” the NYPD's Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said Wednesday, adding that two local merchants recognized the suspect from the images, but didn’t know his name.

When the suspect later came to one of the local stores, investigators were notified and arrested him shortly after, according to Boyce.

The suspect, who Boyce said confessed to all three arsons, told police that “he was apparently drinking” when he set the blazes.

The man, Boyce said, had two prior arrests and was on probation for them. It was not immediately clear what the arrests were for.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Shuaib was awaiting arraignment, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.

Police are still looking for a separate arsonists, dressed like a "ninja," who has targeted homes under construction owned by Bukharian Jews living in the Cord Mayer section of the neighborhood.