James Vastola
Posted from the Pleasantville Police Department on December 10, 2025
At 4:55am on December 10, 2025, the Pleasantville Police Department received a 911 call from the homeowner of a residence, reporting that his son, James Vastola, had started a fire in the basement of the family home. The Pleasantville Fire Department and the Pleasantville Ambulance Corps were dispatched via County Fire Control, and responding officers arrived to find a heavy smoke condition originating inside the home, and that the son had left the scene.
The caller was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and eventually released.
James Vastola is a 32-year-old man; 6’ 2” tall and 210 pounds. He was last seen in a black and green sweatshirt, black sweatpants and white sneakers. Despite multiple ongoing investigative techniques, his whereabouts are still unknown.
In close coordination with the Superintendent of Schools, and out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to delay the opening of Pleasantville Schools and to place all three school buildings in Lockout status. A Lockout restricts outdoor activities and limits building access to ensure the safety of students and staff from a potential external threat. At no point, however, was there any evidence to suggest that Mr. Vastola posed a specific threat to the schools or anyone inside. The delay allowed investigators valuable time to advance the case.
Anyone with any information about this incident, or Mr. Vastola’s whereabouts, is asked to contact the Pleasantville Police Department at (914) 769-1500. End of statement.
Vastola was arrested in 2021 for attempting to have a friend kills a woman for him for $1,000. The offer was serious enough for Vastola to be charged by Pleasantville Police with second-degree criminal soliciation to commit murder, and was sentenced to 1-3 years. Initially Vastola was to be sentenced to parole, but parole violations put him in prison for three months, until he was released on Dec. 4, 2024.
Vastola is well known to Pleasantville Police, who responded to several domestic violence cases and complaints made against Vastola. The Journal News reported that the domestic violence files are sealed, but other media outlets are attempting to get those filed unsealed to try and determine if Vastola is a threat to surrounding communities in Westchester.
The Pleasantville School District had a 3-hour delay during the Police hunt for Vastola. Despite the manhunt being unsuccessful, students attended school in the afternoon.
When asked about expanding the search to other areas of Westchester County, Pleasantville Police Chief Erik Grutzner said officials are “utilizing every means possible” to search for Vastola and “trying to be as all-encompassing as possible.”
