Corey Smith, 24, and Elaine Carberry, 36, both of Brooklyn, were arrested this morning and charged with setting fire to a marked NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit van in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The blaze, deliberately ignited just before 4:40 a.m. on July 15, 2020, destroyed the vehicle completely. Federal and city law enforcement moved swiftly to apprehend the pair, who are now in custody awaiting arraignment in Manhattan federal court.
According to court documents, surveillance footage captured Smith and Carberry at the scene moments before the first flames erupted. At approximately 4:37 a.m., the van burst into fire on the northwest corner of 12th Street and University Place. Authorities say the pair walked away, exchanged a suspicious bottle from Carberry’s purse, then returned. Smith approached the burning van a second time, igniting a larger inferno. Investigators later confirmed the presence of an accelerant at the scene, and FDNY classified the fire as a confirmed act of arson.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss didn’t mince words: “As alleged, Corey Smith and Elaine Carberry deliberately set fire to an NYPD van, then minutes later returned… to ensure its complete destruction.” She credited the joint response of the NYPD, FDNY, and ATF for preventing further harm. “The defendants are now in custody,” Strauss said.
ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito emphasized the danger posed by such acts. “These defendants, as alleged, set fire to a marked NYPD van under the cover of darkness, endangering the lives of all New Yorkers.” He reaffirmed the Arson and Explosives Task Force’s commitment to prosecuting those who use fire as a weapon.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea slammed the incident as criminal, not protest. “Setting a police car on fire endangers officers, firefighters, and residents. These organized efforts are not a form of protest, they are crimes.” He praised detectives and interagency cooperation, noting the damage undermines legitimate activism and burdens taxpayers.
Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro echoed that sentiment: “Deliberately setting fires to damage property or harm others has no place in our city.” He commended Fire Marshals, NYPD, and ATF for their swift investigation. Smith and Carberry each face one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of arson—both carrying a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. The case continues under federal jurisdiction in the Southern District of New York.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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