Transfer student charged with starting SUNY Potsdam dorm fire

Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·2 min read

Feb. 13—POTSDAM — SUNY Potsdam University Police have charged a Buffalo resident with intentionally setting a dorm fire in Van Housen Hall over the weekend that displaced 62 students.

Phonta Johnson is charged with felony counts of fourth- and second-degree arson. He was arraigned in Norfolk Town Court and remanded to the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility, Canton, in lieu of $25,000 bail.

According to SUNY Potsdam officials, Johnson is a transfer student who resided in Van Housen. The fire started in his room. He will be suspended, pending the outcome of the legal case, a statement from the college reads.

Law enforcement and emergency agencies involved include SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton University Police, the Potsdam Fire Department, the St. Lawrence County Office of Emergency Services, the St. Lawrence County District Attorney's Office, New York State Police, the Potsdam Police Department and the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Fire departments from Canton, Hannawa Falls, West Stockholm and Parishville provided mutual aid response to help stop the blaze.

Residents of the second floor of Van Housen returned to their rooms Sunday afternoon.

Some residents of the third floor were able to return to their rooms on Sunday, but cannot sleep there.

Other third-floor residents can only get to their rooms while accompanied by a staff member. Those students will likely not return to the dorm this semester. The college said 62 students were residing or staying in the building at the time of the fire.

Van Housen Hall houses a mix of students and some campus offices. The rooms in Van Housen are all single-occupancy rooms.

In a typical year, Van Housen Hall is home to around 65 students and two resident assistants. Van Housen Hall is also home to the Counseling Center, Student Health Services and University Police.

The College Counseling Center remains available to support students who have been under stress due to this incident. Support 24/7 is also available from the Crisis Text Line: text Got5 or HOME to 741741; Crisis Phone Line: dial 988; or Reachout: 315-265-2422.

Anyone who may have information on the incident is asked to contact University Police at 315-267-2222, or send a tip via the Rave Guardian campus safety app.