Westchester County Police are currently investigating an arson and vandalism incident at the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow. The damage was discovered on Saturday morning by a Westchester County Parks employee, who noticed smoke, broken windows, and other property damage upon arrival.
Local authorities from the Sleepy Hollow police and fire departments responded promptly, extinguishing a small fire using fire extinguishers. Westchester County Police patrol officers were also present and handed over the investigation to detectives from the General Investigations Unit.
“The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County’s most iconic and cherished landmarks,” stated County Executive Ken Jenkins. “This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
The lighthouse, which holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places, suffered significant destruction. The crime scene was processed by the Westchester County Police Forensic Investigation Unit along with the Cause & Origin Team from the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services.
The Westchester County Parks Department is conducting a detailed assessment of the damages. Preliminary estimates suggest that repairs could cost around $100,000; however, this figure may change as further evaluations are made. Consequently, all public tours of the lighthouse have been suspended for now.
Detectives from the General Investigations Unit urge anyone with information about this incident to contact County Police through various telephone and electronic tip lines available. These communications are confidential, allowing tipsters to remain anonymous if they choose.
