Man accused of arson in Monroe Twp.
3/19/2014MONROE -- A man has been arrested and accused of breaking into an unoccupied Monroe Township residence Tuesday and setting it on fire, 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.
Sheriff deputies responding to a report of black smoke coming from a residence in the 5900 block of Roseland Avenue arrived shortly after 5 p.m. and spoke to a witness, according to the sheriff's office.
The witness told them that a man who looked familiar was seen breaking into the residence through the front door and running out a few moments later. Seconds later, the witness saw black smoke pouring from the open front door, deputies said.
The suspect was later taken into custody without incident at his Monroe Township home, according to the sheriff's office.
The fire was extinguished by the Monroe Township fire crews. The fire damage estimate was unavailable.