Barinder Singh, the owner of an Indian Fusion food truck in Niagara Falls who was charged with setting a woman on fire earlier this week, is back in police custody. Niagara Falls police arrested Singh late Thursday afternoon at his Niagara Street business.
Singh was taken into custody on an indictment warrant, as confirmed by Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti. The sheriff's office has listed Singh as an inmate at the county jail.
Singh's initial arrest took place on Monday when he was charged with first-degree assault for the attack on a 48-year-old woman near his food truck at Eighth and Niagara streets on Sunday morning. However, Singh was released under the supervision of the Niagara County Probation Department by Niagara Falls City Court Judge Diane Vitello on Tuesday. This decision sparked controversy as Singh was released without bail despite a request from Niagara County prosecutors to hold him without bail.
According to a police report, the victim provided a harrowing account of the attack and identified Singh as her assailant. Court documents revealed that videos retrieved from Singh's cellphone showed the severely burned woman and the food truck owner threatening her and accusing her of theft.
Two videos, one before and one after the attack, depicted Singh pouring a flammable substance on the victim and setting her head and other parts of her body on fire. The victim, who suffered third-degree burns, including burns to her head, arms, and body, remains in critical condition at Erie County Medical Center.
City officials announced Singh's arrest in a news release, stating that police responded to the area of Seventh and Niagara streets early Sunday morning. Singh was brought to the victim's location where she positively identified him as her attacker. It was reported that Singh's mother extinguished the fire on the victim's body.
No further information is available at this time - Niagara Falls Man Who Set Woman on Fire Back in Police Custody Hours After Release.