Man Allegedly Sets Himself Ablaze in Lobby of NYC Building Housing Google Offices
A bizarre incident occurred in Lower Manhattan on Friday when a 63-year-old Brooklyn man allegedly set himself on fire in the lobby of a building housing Google's offices. John Butch, the suspect, used a lighter and an accelerant to ignite the flames around 3 p.m., prompting multiple people to call 911.
Butch was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center with severe burns and is listed in stable condition. He faces charges of arson, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment. Police confirmed that Butch is not an NYPD employee, despite the building housing the department's Internal Affairs Bureau.
The 10-story office building at 315 Hudson St. is a major hub for Google, with the company occupying around 410,556 square feet of space. The location is part of Google's $1 billion investment in its New York operations.