Berkeley Township man charged after arson fire at Toms River gym
Toms River, NJ – A predawn fire outside a Route 37 fitness center led to criminal charges after investigators determined the blaze was deliberately set, ending a multi-agency probe with the arrest of a Berkeley Township man.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Joseph Mansueto, 38, was charged on February 9 with aggravated arson and criminal mischief in connection with a fire reported hours earlier at Planet Fitness on Route 37 West.
The incident unfolded around 3:40 a.m. on February 8 when emergency crews responded to a structure fire at the exterior of the building. Responders found a small fire outside the facility that was quickly contained and did not spread inside.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit Arson Squad and multiple local and county agencies determined the fire originated at the exterior southwest corner of the building. Officials said the cause was incendiary, involving an open flame applied to available combustibles.
Further investigation identified Mansueto as the individual responsible for setting the fire. He was taken into custody on February 9 by officers from the Beachwood Police Department and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains held pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutors noted the charges are accusations and that Mansueto is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- A Berkeley Township man was charged with aggravated arson and criminal mischief
- The fire occurred outside a Planet Fitness on Route 37 West in Toms River
- Investigators determined the blaze was intentionally set using an open flame