A Manhattan man faced a judge Thursday morning, a day after he was arrested in connection with the Bronx house explosion that killed a fire battalion chief earlier this week.
Garivaldi Castillo, 32, of Washington Heights, was remanded without bail. He was arrested Wednesday night on felony charges of criminal possession of marijuana, police said.
He has no prior convictions, but has pending marijuana charges and could also be charged with murder-related charges by the Bronx district attorney's office pending investigation results.
Castillo was observed by the NYPD and Drug Enforcement Agency. He had a phone number known to police that was disconnected after the explosion, prosecutors said. It's unclear whether he lived at the grow house, but he had a key to the front door.
At his Washington Heights home, his father, Efrain Castillo, told NBC 4 New York in Spanish he was worried and didn't know why his son was being investigated. He said police showed up to their apartment Tuesday to talk to Castillo about an outstanding ticket.
"I don't know why he is being investigated," Efrain Castillo said. "I know nothing."
Castillo's attorney, Francisco Serrano, said there isn't a "scintilla of evidence" his client was present in the house at the time of the explosion.
Meanwhile, a second man, Julio Salcedo, was being held as a fugitive from justice at the Bergen County jail Wednesday, sheriff's deputies there said. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals on an outstanding warrant unrelated to the explosion but he is considered a person of interest in the case, according to law enforcement sources.
Explosion near 234th and Irwin Ave Bronx NYC. @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/qjqOqkDwN3
— Dylan Ryder (@DylanMRyder) September 27, 2016
Salcedo has not yet been charged in the explosion but he was under arrest and expected to be extradited back to New York City, according to the sources.
Authorities said that Salcedo was thought to be a renter at the home. Law enforcement sources said Salcedo had a conversation with firefighters as they responded to a gas leak on the scene, then disappeared before the home exploded. The leak was caused by the grow house's "manipulation and construction", the prosecutor said.
Meanwhile, West 234th Street remained blocked off Thursday, and around a half dozen homes were still unsafe following the explosion days before.
Neighbor George Haramis recalled of the Tuesday morning blast that killed Fahy and injured 12 people: "It felt so loud and I've never head anything like that before."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK27zjSgU5gThe slate roof of the house flew over power lines and trees, striking and killing FDNY Battallion Chief Michael Fahy.
Adriana Fellheimer said she watched as FDNY firefighters try to save one of their own.
"They worked on him, like they tried everything they could, they did. They really tried," she said.
Fahy was mourned by members of his firehouse Wednesday as his body was taken to Westchester, where funeral services will be held this weekend.
House explosion in the Bronx 1 PD MOS to the hospital pic.twitter.com/SXEGaSfpvf
— SBA (@SBANYPD) September 27, 2016
Mass for the father of three is expected to be held Saturday at Annunciation Church, not far from his Yonkers home. His wake is being held at Flower Funeral Home on Thursday and Friday.
Mayor de Blasio ordered all flags on city buildings to be flown at half-staff each day from sunrise to sunset until Fahy is buried.
It is with deep regret that FDNY announces the line of duty death of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy https://t.co/XDK0NLYp1k pic.twitter.com/KpXI0ulzZO
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 27, 2016
