Schenectady

A three-week investigation into a deliberately set fire that destroyed the fieldhouse at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School last month led to the arrest of three suspects Thursday.

Investigators made the arrests after searching a home on Cromer Avenue, where one of them lives.

Shameek McDuffie, 19, whose address was listed as Bradford Street in Albany, was charged with third-degree arson, a felony carrying to 15 years in prison upon conviction. Police also charged McDuffie with third-degree burglary, which carries a potential seven-year sentence, criminal mischief, petit larceny and criminal trespassing. He was in Schenectady County Jail. Bail has not yet been set.

Police said they arrested McDuffie on the 200 block of Gifford Road about 6:10 p.m.

Joseph Riordan, 18, of the Cromer Avenue address, was arrested on Bradford Road in Schenectady about 6 p.m. Police charged Riordan with third-degree burglary, criminal mischief, criminal trespassing and petit larceny. He is also being held in Schenectady County Jail, with no bail set as yet.

Francis Civitello, 17, of Greeley Street in Schenectady, was arrested about 8:15 p.m. at police headquarters on Liberty Street. He is charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief.

The arrests put faces to a crime that was personal to many in the city, including police. At least two Schenectady police officers are assistant coaches on the football team.

The blaze erupted shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 21 at Brother Lopez Athletic Field House, near the football and baseball fields at the Albany Street school. It was one day before the football squad played its first playoff game.

"It's a shame that they felt the need to do something like that," Sgt. Matt Dearing, department spokesman, told reporters after the three were arraigned. "It's a good day. I went to school there. I graduated there in 2001, played football in that fieldhouse, soccer in that fieldhouse, so I'm relieved."

Investigators scrutinized several possible suspects in the case, which they considered high priority based on "where it happened and the parties involved," police told the Times Union last month.

Dearing praised detectives for cracking the case. He noted the investigation remains open.

"These cases obviously that involve arson sometimes can be difficult but you take every lead just as serious as the one you had the day before as the one the day before as the one you'll have day after," Dearing told reporters. "So it does take a little bit of time — and any investigation really takes time — so patience, unfortunately, is something that we have to have and people have to have with us as we try to get enough evidence to prove things."

The blaze prompted support from the community including several other high school football teams. Equipment and cash were donated.

Athletic Director Patrick Moran said the football coach estimated it will cost about $70,000 to replace damaged equipment. It will cost hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to build a new field house.

The baseball and track teams also lost equipment, he said.