Mount Olive, NJ police arrested a man for allegedly starting a fire in his apartment at the Eagle Rock Village complex in Budd Lake, NJ.
Prosecutors believe the suspect intentionally started the fire by venting propane tanks into his apartment as a candle burned. In a statement, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office indicated that “officials located multiple propane tanks venting a flammable substance into the apartment.”
When law enforcement officers responded to the fire, they encountered heavy smoke inside the apartment. After firefighters extinguished a fire in the apartment’s kitchen, they discovered a glass candle underneath a kitchen chair. Authorities said the chair had clothing draped over it.
Several adjacent apartments had to be evacuated as a result of the blaze. However, no one was injured.
Sometime after discovering the fire, police arrested the suspect in New York. The suspect was then charged with second degree aggravated arson. Aggravated arson is addressed by N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1. If the suspect is convicted, he could be sentenced to as many as 10 years in state prison.
While awaiting formal extradition proceedings, the suspect was held in New York. When he is eventually transported to New Jersey, he will be held on $100,000 bail.
In the meantime, authorities have asked that anyone with information about this incident call the Mount Olive Police Department at 973-691-0850.
For additional information, read the NJ.com article entitled “Man Accused of Setting Budd Lake Apartment on Fire, Venting Propane Tanks into Unit.“
If you’ve been accused of committing arson in New Jersey, contact Morristown NJ criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey for a free consultation about your case.