Rose Yee, 68, was arrested Monday evening after police alleged she threw lit matches at a man and set clothing on fire while threatening to burn down his house during a domestic disturbance in Valley Stream, New York, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Background
The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Yee's residence. Police said Yee was engaged in a verbal altercation with a 68-year-old man who already held an active order of protection against her. As the argument escalated, police allege that Yee became irate and began throwing lit matches directly at the man. The man was not injured during the incident, authorities confirmed.
According to online court records, this was not Yee's first encounter with law enforcement regarding criminal contempt charges. She was previously arrested on May 27 and July 3 of this year, both times for criminal contempt violations related to orders of protection. Police have not disclosed the exact nature of her relationship with the victim.
The Charges
Following her arrest without incident, Yee was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being processed at the Nassau County Police Department. She has been charged with two counts of menacing and three counts of criminal contempt in connection with Monday's incident.
The menacing charges stem from allegations that Yee threw lit matches at the victim while he was present at the residence. The criminal contempt charges are tied to her alleged violation of the existing order of protection that had been put in place for the man's safety.
Yee made her first court appearance Tuesday at Nassau County District Court, where she entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
Key Takeaways
- Rose Yee, 68, was arrested following an alleged domestic disturbance in Valley Stream, New York on Monday evening
- Police say she threw lit matches at a 68-year-old man who had an active order of protection against her
- After the initial confrontation, authorities allege she threatened to burn down the house and set an item of clothing on fire, throwing it in front of the residence
- Yee has been charged with two counts of menacing and three counts of criminal contempt
- She previously faced criminal contempt charges on May 27 and July 3 of this year
- No injuries were reported, and police made no mention of property damage to the home
What's Next
Yee is scheduled to return to Nassau County District Court on July 27 for further proceedings related to her most recent charges. She remains out of custody pending her court appearances, having entered a not guilty plea during Tuesday's arraignment. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will seek enhanced penalties given her prior criminal contempt arrests within the same year.