Port Chester Apartment Gas Levels Reached 80 Percent Before Arrest

PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- A 25-year-old Port Chester man is in custody after he allegedly barricaded his Main Street apartment, turned on the gas, disabled the smoke detector and fled, forcing the evacuation of the building’s 135 residents, police reported.

Steven Cordero, 25, faces up to a year in prison on a reckless endangerment charge after he left the gas on in his apartment.
Photo Credit: *Port Chester Police Department*

by William Garrity

02/05/2016 4:01 p.m.

Port Chester police arrested Steven Cordero on Thursday morning about two blocks from his apartment building at 50 Main St.

The building superintendent notified police and the fire department after detecting a strong gas odor coming from apartment 2J. The superintendent told police that when he attempted to alert the tenant, Cordero refused to open the door. When police arrived at about 9:45 a.m., the apartment was empty and Cordero had fled. The level of gas in the apartment had reached 80 percent, officials said.

Police were not able to provide a possible motive.

Cordero is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. He faces up to a year in prison if convicted.

For earlier Daily Voice coverage, click here.

William Garrity is a member of Purchase College's Community Reporting Team.

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