© Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News, The Journal News via Imagn Content Services, LLC
(Brooklyn, NY) – A Brooklyn man is being released without bail after authorities accused him of intentionally lighting fire to an apartment building, injuring nine tenants. 63-year-old Stanley Garcia was arrested last week and handed arson charges after allegedly torching the Bushwick building. Garcia allegedly tried to block tenants from leaving the burning building after setting it ablaze by obstructing the door with his body. Tenants were able to escape by pushing Garcia out of the way and slipping out.
Prosecutors in the case had requested a twenty-thousand dollar bail during Garcia’s arraignment but the judge decided it was appropriate to grant Stanley supervised release on no bail, upsetting many in the neighborhood. Judge Whitehair, who released Garcia, was appointed by Mayor Adams in May. Whitehair worked at the ultra-liberal defense attorney group, Queens Defenders for 15-years before being appointed as a judge.
