CANAAN — A Dutchess County man was charged with attempted arson for allegedly trying to set a New York State Thruway vehicle on fire, with one occupant inside, according to State Police Troop K Public Information Officer Aaron Hicks.
Bradley R. Straley, 37, of Washington was charged with second-degree attempted arson, a class C felony, Hicks said.
State police Troop T responded at about 4 p.m. Wednesday to a reported arson at the Canaan Thruway toll plaza.
Straley attempted to light an occupied Thruway vehicle on fire, according to an investigation, Hicks said. Nobody was injured in the incident.
State police did not say how Straley attempted to set the vehicle on fire.
Straley fled the scene before authorities arrived, but was taken into custody by police on the Taconic State Parkway, Hicks said.
Straley was recently fired from his job as a toll collector on the Thruway, Hicks said, but police did not give a reason for Straley’s termination.
Straley was arraigned virtually in Hudson City Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail, according to Hicks. He is scheduled to reappear in court Tuesday at 9 a.m. Hicks said.