Story by Ethan
On February 5th, 2026, the arrest of Michael Patterson, age 38, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Michael Patterson was charged with third and fifth-degree Arson. The arrest and charges against Michael Patterson were a result of an investigation handled by FDNY Fire Marshals Jaime Shiwgobin, Olando Pitts, and Michael Fenton, and the NYPD Officer Justin Bonilla from the 20th Precinct.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Michael Patterson allegedly has a pattern of arson incidents caused on both the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York. All the fires the defendant allegedly caused involved some form of garbage or trash bags on public streets. The Upper East Side arson incidents allegedly caused by Michael Patterson are as follows; At approximately 11:55 p.m. on September 30th, 2025, the defendant allegedly set fire to a trash pile up adjacent to a parked car near East 92nd Street and Madison Avenue, the car being substantially damaged from the fire. Around two minutes later around East 91st Street and Park Avenue, Michael Patterson allegedly set fire to a pile of garbage near two parked cars. One of the cars suffered heavy damages while the other car was entirely destroyed. Later at approximately 12:25 a.m. on October 1st, 2025, the defendant allegedly set fire to two garbage cans, one near East 70th Street and Madison Avenue and the other around East 71st Street and Madison Avenue. The Upper West Side fires allegedly started by Michael Patterson are as follows; At approximately 2:55 a.m. on October 1st, 2025, the defendant allegedly set fire to a garbage can in the area of West 79th Street and Broadway. Later at around 3:29 a.m. Michael Patterson had significantly damaged two cars in the area of West 77th Street and Columbus Avenue by allegedly setting garbage bags on fire near the parked vehicles. At approximately 4:10 a.m. the same morning the defendant allegedly dumped trash from a public garbage can into a tree planter before setting it ablaze on the street.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Michael Patterson are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
