A fire over the summer in the basement of the Portuguese Heritage Society on Willis Avenue has led to charges filed against a Mineola man, police said.
Manuel Reis, 59, has been charged with arson in the third degree and criminal mischief in the second degree, according to the authorities.
Police responded to 133 Willis Ave. July 10 after an unknown person poured a flammable substance in the basement window before lighting it on fire and fleeing, they said.
The Garden City Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, police said. No injuries were reported.
The damages the Portuguese Heritage Society were not described. The national non-profit organization is also known as Lusitano.
In July Reis was also charged with numerous counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and obstructing governmental administration for placing tire spikes near Nassau County Police facilities.
Reis intentionally placed the tire spikes near police facilities, resulting in damage to multiple Nassau County Police Department vehicles and damage to a woman’s vehicle as well, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Reis was arrested at his Berkley Road home following an investigation on July 14, officials said.
