Swastika-Spraying Manchester Suspect Identified, Faces 20 Years In Prison

Authorities have named the suspect who was arrested on numerous charges in connection with a fire that gutted a house and anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on several homes in Manchester Township late Tuesday, June 6, and into the early morning on Wednesday, June 7.

Ron Carr, 34, of Manchester, was charged with 36 criminal counts, including charges of Bias Intimidation (First and Third Degree), Aggravated Arson (Second Degree), Arson (Third Degree), and Criminal Mischief (Fourth Degree). The charges stem from damage done to more than a dozen homes, including Carr’s alleged use of an accelerant to set a fire that razed a house in the township’s Pine Lake Park section. The investigation revealed that he also scrawled Nazi symbolism on homes, residential fences and elsewhere, and was targeting Jewish residents.

Manchester Township Police responded to calls about vandalism of homes in the Pine Lake Park area at about 11:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Manchester Township Police determined that 14 homes were vandalized. The locations of the defaced properties are not being released to protect the victims’ identities.

At about 3:11 a.m. on June 7, 2023, authorities responded to a structure fire in the same neighborhood and received reports regarding a suspicious person on foot in the vicinity of the fire. That individual matched the description of the suspect in the criminal mischief incidents, who had been captured on security-camera footage. Manchester Township Police located the suspect in the area of Commonwealth Boulevard and Larchmont Street and took him into custody.

The house was destroyed in the fire, three additional homes suffered heat damage and flames spread to a wooded area behind the house. No injuries were reported.

Carr is currently in a medical facility and will be transported to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River pending his detention hearing.

“This crime spree and the antisemitism that it expressed caused pain, destruction, shock and fear among the residents of Manchester Township,” said Attorney General Platkin. “No community in the State of New Jersey should feel vulnerable or anxious in the face of acts of intolerance. No resident should feel their personal safety or their home is threatened by bigotry, persecution and violence. This will not stand, and I commend the law enforcement professionals from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manchester Township Police Department, and the Division of Criminal Justice for their dogged pursuit of the suspect and this quick arrest.”

“I am thankful no one was injured in these senseless acts of bigotry and hate. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in Ocean County and the seriousness of these charges reflect our unwavering commitment to prosecuting bias crimes to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Billhimer.

First-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges can lead to a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses could lead to up to 18 months in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

- Advertisement -

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Toms River Promotes Peter Sundack to Acting Police Chief Following Chief Little’s Retirement

Peter Sundack has been named acting police chief of...

Lakewood Fire Department to Host Fire Prevention Day on October 13th in Red Square

The Board of Fire Commissioners of Lakewood Fire District...

Op-Ed: Everyone Should Support Enhancing Our Children’s Safety | Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn

In recent years, Jackson has faced a growing safety...

Jackson’s Rosenauer Elementary School Going Up For Bid After Sale Is Approved

The Jackson Township Board of Education has officially approved...