Arson suspect who set home on fire to kill spiders arrested in separate hit-and-run

"Investigators say the blaze started inside McDermott's townhouse after he reportedly lit small fires throughout the day, telling a friend and witnesses that he was trying to kill spiders inside the residence. Police say McDermott, of East Moriches, New York, ignited a fire on the floor and then stacked a loveseat on top of it. Despite a friend's repeated efforts to put out the flames, McDermott continued to relight them, the man told authorities."

"Volunteer firefighters battled the blaze for roughly eight hours amid freezing temperatures and icy conditions before finally bringing it under control, Wagner said. After the fire, McDermott fled the scene in a UHaul truck. Nearly 100 miles later, New York Police Department officers responded Wednesday night to a hitandrun collision involving that truck in midtown Manhattan."

"At the time of McDermott's arrest, NYPD's Emergency Services Unit and bomb squad were called to the scene, and officers found nitrous oxide canisters, better known as laughing gas, and a liquid accelerant in the truck, Wagner said."

Sean McDermott, 36, set multiple fires throughout his Pocono Pines townhome on Monday evening, claiming he was attempting to kill spiders. Despite a friend's repeated efforts to extinguish the flames, McDermott continued relighting them. He ignited a fire on the floor and stacked a loveseat on top of it. The blaze spread rapidly, damaging three neighboring units. Volunteer firefighters battled the fire for approximately eight hours in freezing conditions before controlling it. McDermott fled the scene in a U-Haul truck. Two days later, New York Police responded to a hit-and-run collision involving that truck in midtown Manhattan. McDermott abandoned the vehicle and was apprehended. Officers discovered nitrous oxide canisters and liquid accelerant inside the truck.

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