Crime & Safety

Three Charged With Arson, Setting Fires In Toms River And Berkeley

Three have been accused of starting two brush fires Wednesday in the area of the Silver Ridge Apartments and on the Toms River and Berkeley Township borders, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced Thursday.

Dean M. Fornelius, 18, of South Toms River and two juveniles, from Toms River and Beachwood, respectfully, were charged with arson for recklessly putting the forest in danger, according to Coronato.

According to the prosecutor's office:

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At approximately 3:46 p.m., Toms River police and firefighters were dispatched for a brush fire at the Silver Ridge Apartments located at 359 Edgewood Drive in Toms River Township.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel saw smoke and fire coming from two separate locations, approximately 100 yards from each other. The fire companies quickly extinguished the blazes, preventing them from spreading beyond the immediate area.

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Toms River Police and New Jersey State Forest Fire Service requested Ocean County fire investigators respond to determine the origin and cause of the fire. 

Forest Service Fire Warden Brian Corvinus arrived on location and conducted a preliminary scene examination. He was quickly joined by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Arson Unit Detectives Thomas Haskell and John J. Doran, Toms River Police Det. Roger Hull, Berkeley Police Det. Scott Stoker and Ocean County Fire Marshalls Bill Gee and Mike Wolfschmidt.

While the arson investigators examined the scene and plotted the area of origin, Toms River Police developed descriptions of three suspects leaving the area of the fire and located one of the suspects on Highland Parkway in Toms River.

The subsequent investigation led to the identity and apprehension of two other juvenile suspects. 

At the Toms River Police Department all the partnering agencies met to compile all the facts of the investigation, which resulted in charges of arson for all three. 

Along with the arson charge, Fornelius was charged with possession of a BB gun and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Bail was set at $10,000 no 10 percent option on Fornelius, and he was lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

Both juveniles were released to their parents.


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