Bergen County authorities announced the arrest of Laila Abualia for Child Endangerment and Arson today.
According to authorities, the arrest came about as the result of a joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad, the Cliffside Park Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Authorities said, on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, the Cliffside Park Police Department received a report of a residential fire at 238 Day Avenue, Cliffside Park, N.J.
The building is an 11- unit multi-family apartment building. First responders discovered the fire inside of Apartment #3. The superintendent of the apartment complex was present at the scene and reported that the residents of Apartment 3 were Abualia and Imad Awawda, as well as their two children ages three and five.
The superintendent further said that Abualia had been leaving in a taxi cab as he arrived at the building.
However, he was able to stop the taxi and Abualia from leaving the area. Abualia turned over her keys to the superintendent when he questioned her about the fire. Abualia then left in the taxi with her children.
The Cliffside Park Police and Fire Departments responded to the building, and the fire was extinguished and declared under control.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad was notified of the fire, prompting members of the Arson Unit and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson
Task Force to respond and investigate the cause and origin of the fire. The fire was determined to have been started in two separate areas of the apartment, specifically the bedroom and the living room.
The cause of the fire was found to be an outside heat source which ignited bedding/furniture in those areas.
As a result of the investigation, Abualia was arrested and charged with 1 count of Aggravated Arson, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Abualia made a first appearance in Hackensack at Central Judicial Processing on April 19, 2017 and was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending a further appearance in Superior Court on the State’s motion to detain her without bail, scheduled for Monday, April 24, 2017 at 9:00am before Judge Edward Jerejian.
Prosecutor Grewal states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and wishes to thank the Cliffside Park Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.