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Who is Fox Christmas tree arson suspect? Craig Tamanaha was arrested twice this year

Tamanaha, 49, who has been arrested in the past for drug possession is in custody on six charges including arson and endangerment

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Fox News Christmas tree on Fox Square was set ablaze shortly after midnight on December 8. Footage of the 50-foot high tree going up in flames made it to the Internet and incited varying reactions from netizens. While some called the then-unidentified suspect a Grinch on the streets, trolls offered to start a GoFundMe to buy drinks for the suspect who has now been identified as Craig Tamanaha by the New York Police Department. 

Fox News employees alerted the police after Tamanaha climbed the tree around 12:14 to start the fire after which he made an unsuccessful attempt to escape the crime scene. The city's fire department extinguished the fire from the tree which was lit on-air on December 5 as part of the 'All-American Christmas' tree lighting ceremony which has been a tradition at Fox HQ over the past three years. CEO Suzanne Scott sent out a memo to all staff assuring that "this deliberate and brazen act of cowardice to deter us." The company is currently in the process of installing a new tree as "a message that there can be peace, light, and joy even during a dark moment like this."

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Who is Craig Tamanaha?

Craig Tamanaha, a 49-year-old man, who is homeless is currently held at Midtown Precinct North by the NYPD, according to a Daily Mail report citing an update provided by an NYPD spokesperson. "On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at approximately 0014 hours, a 49-year-old male was observed by Fox News Channel security climbing the Christmas tree decorated outside their office building near the corner of West 48 Street and Sixth Avenue, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct. Upon arrival, officers observed the male running from the location and he was taken into custody without further incident. The fire within the tree was extinguished without further injury or incident by responding FDNY personnel."

Other details about Tamanaha including how long he's been staying in New York, and if he has a criminal record in other cities remain unclear at the moment. The recent arrest is Tamanaha's third brush with the NYPD, having previously been arrested on two occasions in February and March this year, both times for drugs possession. Detectives working on this case told the outlet that Tamanaha's recent alleged crime was a random act and not politically fuelled. He is expected to appear in court later on December 8 on six charges including arson, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct. The spokesperson also confirmed that a lighter was recovered from Tamanaha at the time of his arrest but authorities are still investigating if it was used to light a fire to the tree that was decorated with 10,000 ornaments and took 21 hours to be installed.