Mitchell students charged with torching college employee's car

New London — Two Mitchell College students were charged with setting fire to the car of a Mitchell College employee who had a role in banning one of the students from living on campus.

Police charged Phillip M. Baton, 18, of 1531 Glasco Road, Lot 116, Griswold, with third-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Fire personnel responded to a car fire at 80 DeBiasi Drive on Friday. The car was fully engulfed.

Police were able to identify Baton and another student, Ruben Quinones, 19, of Colchester, through security video footage, according to a probable cause report.

The video shows the suspects approaching the 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The pair walk away and start walking towards the Mattson dormitory.

The footage then shows Baton observing the car, which was on fire, and then for a second time approaching the vehicle, the report said.

Baton and Quinones are then seen entering the dormitory.

Two minutes later, the footage shows the pair exiting the dormitory, where Baton approached the vehicle for a third time.

The victim, who neither police nor college officials identified, said she was involved in a disciplinary hearing that resulted in Baton being banned from living on campus.

She said since the hearing Baton was very angry at her and she observed him about two days before the fire staring at her while she was driving her car, the report said.

Several witnesses that police interviewed said that Baton was angry with the victim and had stated that the disciplinary hearing was unfair.

The probable cause report does not state the nature of the disciplinary hearing.

Mitchell College officials did not return phone calls.

Police on Friday attempted to interview Baton, who refused to talk to them.

Quinones did agree to talk to police. He said that he and Baton were "messing around with lighter fluid." Baton told him "I know what I can do with that," the report said.

Quinones said that Baton pried the cap off the lighter fluid and then asked for a rag to put in the top.

Baton put some napkins on the top of the lighter fluid and then asked for a lighter, the report said.

Quinones said he thought Baton was just going to blow the lighter fluid up but instead Baton asked if he knew who drove any of the cars in the parking lot.

Quinones, according to the report, said he did not. He said that Baton walked towards the Chevrolet Malibu, ignited the lighter fluid and dumped it in the back seat of the car, the report said.

Quinones denied that he knew who the vehicle belonged to.

He was charged with third-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree reckless endangerment.

Both men have court dates scheduled for next month.

i.larraneta@theday.com