BORDERLAND
Man jailed on suspicion of home invasion, arson
3/20/2014MONROE — A man was in jail Wednesday after he was arrested and accused of breaking into an unoccupied Monroe Township residence and setting it on fire the day before, authorities said.
The man, who is in his 40s, was being held in the Monroe County jail pending arraignment on charges of home invasion and arson, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. His name was not released.
Deputies responding to a report of smoke coming from a residence in the 5900 block of Roseland Avenue arrived shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday and spoke to a witness, the sheriff’s office said. The witness told them a familiar-looking man was seen breaking into the residence through the front door and running out moments later.
Seconds later, the witness saw smoke pouring from the open front door, deputies said.
The suspect was taken into custody at his Monroe Township home, the sheriff’s office said.
Monroe Township fire crews put out the fire.