Wanted man located after 8-day search in Pleasantville
Authorities had been searching for 32-year-old James Vastola since Dec.10, when he was accused of setting a fire inside his home on Greenmeadow Road.
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Pleasantville police say a man wanted in connection with a house fire has been located after an eight-day search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Police say it was just after 5 p.m. Thursday when they received a call from a resident who believed they recognized the suspect walking along Commerce Street in Thornwood.
A short time later, a Mount Pleasant police officer spotted a man matching the description of the suspect near the Hawthorne train station.
Authorities had been searching for 32-year-old James Vastola since Dec.10, when he was accused of setting a fire inside his home on Greenmeadow Road.
The incident led to a delayed opening for Pleasantville school district schools that day as a precaution.
Pleasantville Police Chief Erik Grutzner said departments across the area assisted in the search.
“We enlisted the help of any and every police department that we could in the search for this individual,” Grutzner said. “We had some dealings with him in the past, so we knew some of the places that he could go to.”
Investigators say they are continuing to work to gather more information related to the case.
Residents say they are thankful for the police response and the safety measures taken, especially when it came to schools.
“We need our police officers,” said Pleasantville resident Danielle Preiser. “And when it comes to the kids, our kids need to be protected.”
Vastola is currently being held at the Westchester County Jail.
