Steven Johnson, 36, a resident of Little Egg Harbor Township, has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Arson, in connection with three incidents at the same home over just a few days.
On January 6, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at a vacant structure on Revolutionary Road. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. An investigation revealed that the fire originated in the living room of the structure, and that the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid.
On January 10, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg Harbor Fire Departments were once again dispatched to the same address on Revolutionary Road for a report of a shed fire. A subsequent investigation determined that the fire was again incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to an ignitable liquid. The shed was not damaged from the fire.
On January 12, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Officers from the Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department were conducting surveillance at the subject residence on Revolutionary Road when they observed an unknown male, later identified as Johnson – the next door neighbor – hop the fence of the subject property and pour a liquid on the attached deck. Johnson then lit an item on fire, and dropped the ignited item on the deck. Officers observed Johnson leave the subject property and return to his own residence. Officers quickly extinguished the fire, proceeded to Johnson’s residence and placed him under arrest without incident.
Further investigation revealed that Johnson was responsible for all three fires at the Revolutionary Road residence. Johnson was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.