Binghamton Man Charged with Arson in Downtown Blaze

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the fire that heavily damaged a downtown Binghamton apartment house.

Authorities said 56-year-old Terry Bell has been charged with fourth-degree arson. He was taken into custody by city police Wednesday afternoon, several hours after the fire was reported.

According to a detective bureau news release, Bell had been using the building at 122 Henry Street as his residence. The place was supposed to have been vacant.

Bell was arraigned in Binghamton city court and sent to Broome County Jail.

A fire department investigator sustained a leg injury when he slipped on ice at the scene. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.

The Henry Street property had been acquired by Isaac Anzaroot of Brooklyn for $100,000 nearly three years ago.

The site was one of several that was to be transferred to the city of Binghamton as a result of a December settlement with Anzaroot.

Mayor Jared Kraham said the city was in the process of taking ownership of the property at 122 Henry Street but Anzaroot was still the owner at the time of the fire.

Kraham said the city ordered the demolition of the building because it was in "imminent danger of collapse."

Anzaroot also was the owner of an apartment building at 159 Conklin Avenue that was destroyed by fire in February 2022.

Police charged 36-year-old Marquetta James of New Haven, Connecticut with second-degree arson in connection with that blaze.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.