UPDATE: Berkeley Man Charged With Setting Holiday City Fire No Relation To Homeowners
Daniel O’Leary, 51, was charged with second degree aggravated arson in connection with the Friday fire
A 51-year-old Berkeley Township man was charged with aggravated arson Monday in connection with a fire at a Holiday City residence, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Daniel O’Leary, 51, of 66 Barbuda Street in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township, was arrested and charged with second degree aggravated arson in connection with the Friday fire.
O’Leary is charged with intentionally setting fire to the home at 77 Barbuda Street on Friday, according to the prosecutor's office.
"He lived a few houses away," Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michel A. Paulhus said.
Investigators charge that O'Leary knew that two people were inside the residence at the time.
"He intentionally set the fire using combustible materials," said Paulhus. Paulhus declined to say what O'Leary used to start the fire.
The fire was set during the late evening hours. The residents of the home - both of whom suffer from medical disabilities - were able to safely evacuate during the fire, according to the prosecutor's office.
O’Leary, who could face up to 10 years in prison, was jailed on $150,000 bail with no 10 percent option. He is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of bail.
The blaze broke out in the garage of the one-story ranch around 12:24 a.m. and was confined to the garage and the attic, Manitou Park Fire Chief Will Jubert has said.
"It wasn't fully engulfed, it was a working fire in the garage," he said.
It took firefighters about 20 minutes to knock the blaze down, Jubert said.
Anyone who has any information concerning this case is asked to contact Detective Thomas Haskell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929-2027, extension 3953, or Detective Joseph Robertazzi of the Berkeley Township Police Department at (732) 341-6600.
jerseyswamps
10:24 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
How about a possible motive? Is he related?
.
12:00 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Doesn't the headline say "no relation"?
pat spaldi
11:03 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
He is not related. Only motive is pure evil.
linda lopez
12:44 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
prob a retard living with his parnets
.
12:03 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
@linda lopez....you mean someone that is slow....or possibly can't spell? What is a "parnet"? Think before you post!
barbara
11:29 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sick......glad the residents were ok.....
Rob
11:55 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
So many bad people living in HC. Last week the B/E guy from Jamaica BLVD. Why are these low lifes aloud to live in a community that you have to be 55yrs or older.Old people if you see young people living in your area notify your club house and if that doesn't work call the police. They are already taking advantage of an older person by living off them - you may call it elder abuse. Never mind breaking into your home or lighting it on fire.
KAREN A KINCAID
12:11 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ummm excuse me, but that's a crock of crap. NOT all young ppl would do something like that!!
Rob
12:07 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
It seems from what is on the internet that this guy lives with his mother and is a neighbor to the people he set the fire to.
Rob
12:09 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Another guy living off the elderly. You see it all over HC.
KAREN A KINCAID
12:11 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
WHAT, no BINGO that night?
suz
3:37 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
When will this end? Elderly parents who feel "obligated" to take in their wayward children when living in a adult community end up being on the end of their crime sprees. Perhaps, yes Rob, I must agree...contact your HOA and complain if you feel that something is just not right. Yeah, I get it...some folks just don't want to get involved because maybe it just opens up a new can of worms. Maybe that is why this a**hole tried to burn down their neighbors home? Just can't seem to win today.
Dee
10:42 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Live in Silver Ridge West. Notice so many under 55ers in with parents/grandparents. Report to my clubhouse and also have spoken with police. There is nothing that can be done by police unless they see them committing a crime. The cost through a lawyer associated with the SRW is too high to go after all the homes where this is occurring. By-laws allow for one person to be under 55, under 19 if there is "special needs". Renters are increasing as well and was told by my trustee that more of those households are coming in with younger people. Very hard to enforce as the younger influx is growing way faster than the ability to handle. Initially, in our section, when complaint is made, the trustee is to physically go and speak with the person in the home. The person either does not answer the door or will have the trustee stay outside so nobody can see if there are infractions such as dining areas that are bedrooms,etc. Big problem.
Nancy
2:11 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Wow,Younger people can't afford the high rents so they live with their parents or grandparents. Sounds like this guy had mental issues. Scary. We had robberies here in Crestwood Village last year and the robber was a younger man living with his parents too. We are okay after he was caught but there is not much you can do about it.
foggyworld
3:05 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
That bail seems mighty low considering the crime he started. Glad he can't meet it but pyromania is a very profound disorder and anyone caught should not be released lightly. That $150K spells in hard cash only $15,000 in bail. Not enough.
Lakeland63
3:13 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
If the PATCH facts are correct that at12:24AM, one intentionally/knowingly commits an arson of an occupied dwelling?
Shouldn't he be charged with attempted murder in addition to the arson charge.
laura jensen
1:35 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
i think too many of you are doing more blame on adults living with adult parents, its not just in your area, its all over, divorse rate is high, economy has ruined people and divorse sometimes plays a factor with high amounts of child support due. also some parents actually like their adult child or children living with them to help out. so i think the blame should be shifted to the crime himself, he is neither a retard (which i think is a harsh word) nor is he evil...... there are two sides to a story, setting the fire is horrible and certainly i am not condoning it. but there does not seem to be too many facts that i can find anywhere on the internet? i guess he could always pull a Jodia Arias and say "i forgot, i dont recall, i dont remember" sad, very sad, but i hope he gets help and im glad the folks are okay
RayneL
10:05 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Apparently the education system has gone down hill too....