A Toms River man is accused of breaking into an unoccupied home under construction, carving antisemitic messages into its walls and doors, and then setting it ablaze.
Dalin J. Brown, 24, was charged with aggravated arson, burglary, bias intimidation, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass in connection with the incident at a home on 12th Avenue, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.
Police were called to the property at 9:55 a.m. Monday following a burglary report. When officers arrived, they found a fire in the living room that had already been extinguished — and antisemitic messages carved directly into the interior door and walls of the home. Investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set along the south wall of the living room using combustible materials found on site.
The house was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Detectives identified Brown as the individual responsible for the break-in, the fire, and the carved hate messages. He was taken into custody without incident at Manchester Township Police Headquarters and is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
