Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of MICHAEL PATTERSON, 38, for allegedly committing a total of seven arsons across the Upper East Side and Upper West Side in 2025. PATTERSON is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with five counts of Arson in the Third Degree and four counts of Arson in the Fifth Degree. [1]

“Michael Patterson allegedly committed a series of arsons on Manhattan’s public streets,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These dangerous fires extensively damaged public and private property, including five vehicles, and it is fortunate that no one was injured. In Manhattan, we take extremely seriously conduct that endangers our communities – whether to people or to property.”

 
Upper East Side Arsons

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, PATTERSON set a total of four fires on the Upper East Side in the late-night hours of September 30, 2025, into the early morning hours of October 1, 2025.

At approximately 11:55 p.m., PATTERSON allegedly set fire to a pile of garbage that was adjacent to a parked car, near East 92nd Street and Madison Avenue, substantially damaging the car.

At approximately 11:57 p.m., PATTERSON allegedly set fire to a pile of garbage that was adjacent to two parked cars, near East 91st Street and Park Avenue. The fire completely destroyed one car and substantially damaged the other.

At approximately 12:25 a.m., on October 1, 2025, PATTERSON allegedly set fire to the trash inside of a garbage can near East 70th Street and Madison Avenue. A few minutes later, he allegedly set fire to another garbage can near East 71st Street and Madison Avenue.

Upper West Side Arsons

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, PATTERSON used a lighter to set a total of three fires on the Upper West Side on October 17, 2025.

At approximately 2:55 a.m., PATTERSON allegedly set a garbage can on fire near West 79th Street and Broadway.

At approximately 3:29 a.m., PATTERSON allegedly set garbage bags on fire that were adjacent to two parked cars, near West 77th Street and Columbus Avenue. The fire spread to the vehicles, substantially damaging both cars.

At approximately 4:10 a.m., PATTERSON allegedly dumped trash from a garbage can into a tree planter and set the trash on fire.

Acknowledgements

Assistant D.A. Amanda Blott is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked the FDNY, particularly Fire Marshals Jaime Shiwgobin, Olando Pitts, and Michael Fenton, and the NYPD, particularly Officer Justin Bonilla (20th Precinct).

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL PATTERSON

Tigard, OR

Charged:

• Arson in the Third Degree, a class C felony, five counts
• Arson in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, four counts

###

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.