NEW ROCHELLE, NY (March 19, 2025) — A 55-year-old New Rochelle man was arrested Tuesday night after police say he set fire to his own BMW SUV, sparking a suspicious blaze that destroyed two vehicles in a parking lot behind a CVS pharmacy.
The New Rochelle Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls around 7:15 p.m. on March 18, 2025, reporting two vehicles engulfed in flames on Lawton Street. Officers arrived to find a dark-colored BMW SUV, registered to Mark Turner, at the center of the fire, with flames spreading to an adjacent SUV. The New Rochelle Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze, but fire officials flagged the incident as suspicious.
Witnesses told police they saw a man dressed in all black lingering near the BMW before the fire erupted. The individual was reportedly seen moving back and forth between the vehicle and a nearby trash receptacle several times before smoke began pouring from the SUV. As the BMW became fully engulfed, the man calmly walked away, heading north on Lawton Street.
Using descriptions from witnesses, police tracked down Turner nearby a short time later. When questioned, Turner admitted to being the driver of the BMW, authorities said. Detectives and fire investigators processed the scene, collecting evidence that led to Turner’s arrest without incident.
Turner, a New Rochelle resident, now faces charges of arson in the third degree, a Class C felony, and criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony, under New York State Penal Law. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to contact them at (914) 654-2300.
The fiery incident left both vehicles completely destroyed, raising questions about Turner’s motives. Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have driven the alleged act of arson.