Baldwin Man Charged With Arson After Sunday AM Car Fire, Police Say

FREEPORT, NY — A Baldwin man was arrested and charged with arson Sunday morning after police connected him with four car fires that took place over the past year, police said.

According to police, officers responded to Freeport’s municipal parking field 1, near 32 Smith St., at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and found multiple vehicles in flames.

An investigation determined that 27-year-old Elder Lopez Avalos had started the fire, and had been seen near the scene, police said. Lopez Avalos was arrested, and further investigation connected him to three previous vehicle fires in Freeport — one on May 2, 2026, one on June 18, 2025 and one on June 29, 2025 — police said.

In the aftermath of his arrest, Lopez Avalos is charged with six counts of third-degree arson and one count of fourth-degree arson, police said. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday, police said.