“They said I was cold hearted and my family would love on the streets for the rest of their lives if I didn’t tell the truth,” said Dockery.
The now 18-year-old testified that he told detectives several times that he did not set the fire and “was trying to save lives.”
Dockery was returning home after playing basketball with his friends at a park nearby his Coney Island building before the flames grew around 12:30 p.m.
“I’m not allowed to have the keys to my apartment because I’m not trustworthy. I loss things,” said Dockery.

NYPD Officer Rosa Rodriguez had to be hospitalized by the toxic smoke the burning mattress emitted.

The detectives argued with Dockery about his heroic tale and told him “they had me for the crime they just wanted to know why I did it and if I had a problem with the lady or anyone in the building,” he said.
Dockery began to cry and prayed.
“They laughed at me. They said they would beat me up. No one will care about my screams. I asked them to ‘please believe me that I didn’t do this,'” Dockery told the jurors in a matter-of-fact tone.
At that moment, Dockery was allegedly denied calling his mother and was faced with an ultimatum.

“Detective Nash said the only way out was if I told them the truth I wouldn’t be charged. I asked ‘are you sure?’ Nash pulled out his cross and said ‘I swear you wouldn’t be charged,'” said Dockery.
“I just basically said ‘I did it.'”
Dockery said he was coached to write specific details in his written statement and to “sell the story” on video that it was an accident and he likes to set fires.
On cross-examination, Dockery admitted to lying to Rikers Island personnel that he was suicidal, heard voices and saw colors in order not to get put into solitary confinement.
The judge allowed prosecutors to introduce Dockery’s jail mishaps into evidence to show that he “will put his own interest above anyone else’s.”