TOMS RIVER MAN CHARGED WITH ARSON AFTER BEING FIRED FROM HIS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT RETURNS AND SETS FIRE TO THE BUSINESS
" Jorge Euxaque-Ballesteros Of Toms River, New Jersey Charged With Aggravated Arson After Setting A 2:00 A.M. Fire At A Business He Was Terminated From."
January 23, 2022 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
LAKEWOOD, NJ.- On Thursday, January 20, 2022 Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, Jorge Euxaque-Ballesteros, 25, of Toms River, New Jersey was Charged with Aggravated Arson; and Burglary, in connection with an incident that occurred in Lakewood Township on January 19, 2022.
On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Members of The Lakewood Township Police Department and Lakewood Township Fire Department responded to a business on Cross Street in reference to a sprinkler system alarm.
Upon arrival, Firefighters were able to extinguish a fire in the basement of the business. An investigation conducted by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that the cause of the fire was incendiary by an unknown person using an open flame to ignite cardboard and paper in the basement. Subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Euxaque-Ballesteros, a former employee of the business who was recently terminated, was responsible for setting the fire.
Later in the day, Mr. Euxaque-Ballesteros was taken into custody in Toms River by Detectives from The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad and Lakewood Police Department. He was transported to Lakewood Police Headquarters, processed, and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER JANUARY 23, 2022: LAW, OCEAN: