A New York City Parks Department worker has been arrested after allegedly giving a lighter to a 10-year-old girl who then lit an M-80 firecracker, causing her to lose a finger. The incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. in General Douglas MacArthur Park in Dongan Hills, Staten Island.
Police identified the worker as Joshua Moe, 24. According to law enforcement sources, Moe allegedly provided the girl with a lighter when she asked for one inside the park. The child then lit the illegal firecracker, which exploded and caused severe injuries to her left hand, including the loss of at least one finger.
The girl's mother called 911, and she was transported to Staten Island University Hospital North for treatment. Moe was arrested around 7:10 p.m. and subsequently charged with endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment, police said.
It remains unclear how the girl obtained the M-80 firecracker. Moe's arraignment was pending on Wednesday, according to Staten Island prosecutors. The city Parks Department has not yet issued a comment on the incident.