Police arrest Cobleskill man following fire investigation

Press Release

On October 27, 2025, State Police with the assistance of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) arrested Dave Torres, 32 of Cobleskill, NY for Arson in the second degree and Arson in the third degree.

On October 26, 2025, at about 10:14 p.m. Troopers responded to a home on East Main Street in Cobleskill, NY for the reports of an unwanted individual. While en route Troopers were notified that the neighboring multi-residential building was on fire. The fire was extinguished by Cobleskill Fire, and it was determined that no one was in the three-apartment residence. The New York State Office of Fire Investigators located evidence indicating the fire was intentionally started. Torres was reportedly present in an apartment within the building and allegedly intentionally set the fire before fleeing the home. 

Further investigation identified Torres as the unwanted subject law enforcement had originally been contacted about. Torres had reportedly been involved in an earlier verbal altercation at the neighboring residence where he had threatened to physically harm the victim. Torres had been told to leave after the altercation which he did for a short period of time but then returned, which is when law enforcement was contacted. The victim of that altercation was later determined to be the resident of the apartment where the fire had originated. 

Torres was arrested in Cobleskill, NY, and transported to SP Cobleskill for processing. He was arraigned at the Schoharie County Centralized Arraignment Part Court where he was remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or a $150,000 partially secured bond.