Otego man charged with burglary and arson

On September 26, 2022, New York State Police at Richfield Springs arrested Gerard D. Bourgeois, age 27 of Otego, NY for the class "C" felonies of Burglary in the second degree and Arson in the third degree. 

On September 26, just before 8:00 p.m., Troopers responded to a report of a suspicious person in the area of Pleasant Valley Road in the town of Hartwick.  During their canvass of the area, they heard smoke alarms going off and observed smoke coming from a residence on Bunn Hill Road in the town of Hartwick. 

The troopers radioed for assistance from fire personnel and immediately entered the home to check if anyone inside need help.  The troopers found an active fire at a gas stove in the kitchen but were unable to turn off the stove because the knobs had been damaged by the fire.  The quick-thinking troopers were able to turn off the flames by shutting off the propane tanks outside.   The troopers found the home was unoccupied at the time of the fire.  Members of the Hartwick Fire Department and Otsego County Emergency services  assisted at the scene of the fire. 

While at the scene of the fire, troopers responded to another report of a suspicious person near the Hartwick Restaurant on State Highway 205 in the town of Hartwick when they located Bourgeois.  An investigation revealed that Bourgeois broke into the residence on Bunn Hill Road and intentionally started a fire.  

Bourgeois was arrested and processed at SP Richfield Springs.  He was arraigned at Otsego County Centralized Arraignment and remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $5-thousand cash bail or $10-thousand bond.  His next court date was set for October 12, 2022.