A convicted arsonist out on parole following a stint in state prison was busted again over the weekend for allegedly trying to set a cop car on fire — in at least his second arrest since his release, law enforcement sources told The Post.
Jesus Figueroa, 31, is accused of climbing under the NYPD squad car in Greenwich Village around 11:30 p.m. Saturday and setting a fire that caused the driver’s side door to go up in flames, according to the sources and a criminal complaint.
Cops quickly caught up with the alleged firebug, who has at least a half-dozen previous arrests — and was still on parole from state prison for setting a fire inside a room at a Queens hotel in 2017, records show.
It was at least the second time that Figueroa allegedly targeted an NYPD vehicle since he was sprung from an upstate lockup on parole four months ago.
Figueroa was locked up again on criminal mischief charges for allegedly smashing the windshield of an NYPD van in Manhattan on Nov. 9, according to the records.
But was released without bail Thursday as the charge is not eligible for bail under the state’s controversial 2019 criminal justice reforms.
“I see criminal justice reform is going swimmingly,” one frustrated Manhattan cop told The Post Sunday.
“Another recidivist — police beware,” the source said.
Sources said Figueroa’s other prior arrests include on sex crime charges and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
He was found guilty of second-degree arson for the Dec. 2, 2017 incident at the Corona Hotel and sentenced to five years in state prison — before being released from the Elmira Correctional Facility in upstate New York in July, records show.
Sources said a security officer at the hotel noticed smoke coming from a room on , and found that a pillow had been set on fire near the door.
Figueroa jumped from a second-floor window to get away but was caught outside near 111th Street and Roosevelt Avenue by the security guard, who held him for cops.
Video surveillance from Saturday night’s incident showed Figueroa getting under the NYPD Ford Fusion and a “little spark” coming from there a short time later, the complaint against him alleges.
He was then caught-on-video walking away as flames erupted on the driver’s side of the car, leaving it “blackened and charred,” according to the complaint.
The driver side door and ballistic panel of the driver side door had fire damage, while the driver side window was shattered — damage that will cost more than $1,500, the complaint states.
“How can the police carry out precision policing when the courts and DAs are not keeping those exact people out of operation?” one cop said. “It is a small percentage of criminals who terrorize communities and will continue to do so until the courts and the DAs do something about it.
“Be forewarned — he will not stop at police.”
Figueroa was arraigned on the new charges of arson and criminal mischief in Manhattan Criminal Court Sunday, with a judge setting his bail at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, prosecutors said.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had asked for a $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond, a rep said.
Figueroa is due back in court Nov. 24.