El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer and Little Egg Harbor Township Chief of Police James Hawkins announced that on January 12, 2023, Steven Johnson, 36, del municipio de Little Egg Harbor, was charged with three counts of Aggravated Arson, in connection with fires that occurred on January 6, 2024, Enero 10, 2024, y enero 12, 2024, all at the same residence in Little Egg Harbor Township.
En enero 6, 2024, aproximadamente a 1:30 soy., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at a vacant structure on Revolutionary Road. Los bomberos pudieron extinguir el fuego. A thorough and extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Little Egg Harbor Police Department Detective Bureau, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Condado de Ocean, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, revealed that the fire originated in the living room of the structure, and that the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid.
En enero 10, 2024, aproximadamente a 12:30 soy., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were once again dispatched to the same address on Revolutionary Road for a report of a shed fire. A subsequent investigation determined that the fire was again incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid. The shed was not damaged from the fire.
En enero 12, 2024, aproximadamente a 1:00 soy., Officers from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department were conducting surveillance at the subject residence on Revolutionary Road when they observed an unknown male, later identified as Johnson – the next door neighbor – hop the fence of the subject property and pour a liquid on the attached deck. Johnson then lit an item on fire, and dropped the ignited item on the deck. Officers observed Johnson leave the subject property and return to his own residence. Officers quickly extinguished the fire, proceeded to Johnson’s residence and placed him under arrest without incident. Further investigation revealed that Johnson was responsible for all three fires at the Revolutionary Road residence. Johnson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, donde permanece alojado en espera de una audiencia de detención.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Hawkins acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Unidad de Investigación de la Escena del Crimen de la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, Oficina de detectives del departamento de policía del municipio de Little Egg Harbor, Departamento de policía de Little Egg Harbor, Oficina del Jefe de Bomberos del Condado de Ocean, and New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, por sus esfuerzos combinados y cooperativos en relación con esta investigación.
Los cargos mencionados anteriormente son meras acusaciones y se recuerda a la prensa y al público que todos los acusados se presumen inocentes a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia..
RPC. 3.6(b)(6).