Bergen Man Lit Fire In Own High-Rise Apartment: Report

Mahwah NJ

26 January, 2022

4:41 PM

Description

FORT LEE, NJ — A Bergen County man was arrested in connection with a Tuesday fire in a Fort Lee high-rise apartment complex, county prosecutor Mark Musella said. The fire was in his own apartment, New Jersey 101.5 reported. At around 4:53 p.m. Tuesday, first responders in Fort Lee were called to an apartment fire in the 1200 block of 15th Street. Fort Lee police contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit Arson Squad to investigate. New Jersey 101.5 reported police found "a large quantity of candles" had been lit on a plastic tote "that contained multiple flammable items." Officials charged Jay U. Freedman, 60, with fourth-degree causing or risking widespread injury or damage in connection with that fire, according to a news release from Musella's office. New Jersey state law defines this charge as follows: "A person who recklessly creates a risk of widespread injury or damage commits a crime of the fourth degree, even if no such injury or damage occurs."