Camden, N.J. – A homeless man has been charged in connection to a Collingswood home invasion and arson that left two injured and also two burglaries that happened the day before, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Collingswood Police Chief Kevin Carey.
Officials say Mr. Bernard Miller, 36, has been charged with the following:
One count of attempted murder
Two counts of first-degree robbery
Two counts of first-degree aggravated arson
One count of second-degree burglary
One count of second-degree aggravated assault
Two counts of criminal restraint
One count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
One count of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
One count of third-degree burglary
Through the investigation, detectives tracked Miller to a homeless shelter in Camden. After viewing surveillance footage, investigators saw Miller enter the shelter Sunday, Feb. 23. in clothing that matched the clothes the man who burglarized the homes was seen wearing Feb. 22. Further footage showed Miller wearing the distinct multicolored zip-up jacket worn on the footage from inside one of the homes burglarized.
Detectives said items from the burglary on the 400 block of Champion Avenue were then found in a backpack Miller was carrying.
Through further investigation, Miller was positively identified as the man who broke into a home Feb. 24 on the 200 block of Crestmont Terrace, attacked one victim, tied another up and set the home on fire.