For Immediate Release:
July 15, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of a JUVENILE on charges of aggravated arson, attempt to cause widespread injury, and criminal trespass. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love, the Oradell Police Department under the direction of Chief William Wicker, and the River Edge Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Walker.

On Monday, June 20, 2022, at approximately 9:46 p.m., the River Edge Police Department responded to the report of a fire inside a garbage receptacle at the Roosevelt Elementary School. Upon their arrival, the fire had self-extinguished.

On Monday, July 11, 2022 at approximately 5:41 p.m., the Oradell Police Department responded to the report of an active fire alarm within the fieldhouse of River Dell High School. Officers observed multiple locations that had been set fire in the fieldhouse as well as heavy smoke damage.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Oradell Police Department, and the River Edge Police Department conducted an investigation and determined that a JUVENILE from Oradell intentionally set both the fire in River Edge and the fire in Oradell.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, the JUVENILE was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); second-degree attempt to cause widespread injury, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2a(1)/5-1; and the disorderly persons offense of criminal trespass. The JUVENILE was remanded to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the JUVENILE is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would also like to thank the Oradell Police Department and the River Edge Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.