Homeless man accused of setting fire to 2 Colonie trailers

Police have arrested a homeless man for allegedly setting two trailers on fire at two Colonie properties five months apart.

Michael J. Kabler, 49, is facing arson charges in connection with fires on Oct. 7 at the Sunset Trailer Park at 2177 Central Ave. and on May 18 in the parking lot of a business on Railroad Avenue.

On Saturday, firefighters from the Stanford Heights, Midway, and town of village of Colonie fire departments responded to the Sunset Trailer Park on Central Avenue to extinguish the fire. Following an investigation, Colonie Police determined that a homeless person, later identified as Kabler, may have been occupying the trialer, according to a news release.

Police located him and determined he was responsible for igniting the fire. The trailer was damaged. No one was injured.

Police also allege that Kabler is responsible for a fire in a camping trailer that had been parked for storage on Railroad Avenue. The Fuller Road, West Albany and Colonie fire departments responded and extinguished that fire.

In addition to arson, Kabler is charged with two counts of criminal mischief, burglary and criminal trespass. He was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and sent to the supervision of Albany County Probation. He is due back in court at a later date.

Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call the Colonie Police Investigations Division at 518-783-2754.  Anonymous tips can be submitted to Capital Region Crimestoppers at 1-833-ALB-TIPS, or go to capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.