North Tonawanda man is charged in LaSalle arson fire

Sep. 23—A North Tonawanda man already facing assault charges for attacking a Falls man has now been charged with arson after police say he set the home of the assault victim's neighbor on fire.

Stephen D. Ababurko, 31, 3144 Krueger Road, was charged with second-degree arson, after his arrest Friday evening in the parking lot of a convenience store in the 6800 block of Buffalo Avenue. At the time of his arrest, Ababurko was released from custody on a second-degree assault charge stemming from the earlier attack.

Falls Police patrol officers said they were called to a structure fire in the 100 block of 70th Street at 5:40 p.m. Friday. When they arrived, Falls firefighters had already extinguished a small fire on the second floor of a residence.

The homeowners told police that Ababurko had moved in with them "a few months", but was "an alcoholic and always causing problems." One of the homeowners said that she and her husband had been arguing with Ababurko "all day long."

During the argument, the homeowner said Ababurko became very angry and yelled, "Watch what I do now."

Ababurko reportedly ran to the second floor of the home and the homeowners said they heard a "commotion upstairs." They said Ababruko then came running downstairs with his shirt over his nose and ran out of the house.

The homeowners said they began to smell smoke and ran upstairs and discovered a small fire.

Days earlier, Falls police arrested Ababruko after he allegedly punched another man in the head with a pair of brass knuckles. That attack occurred in a carport next to the home that was set on fire.

The assault was described as "unprovoked."