A Toms River man has been arrested and charged with setting ablaze a group of commercial vehicles belonging to a local business in Wall Township, Monmouth County officials announced Thursday.
According to Wall Township officials, Harcourt “Paul” S. Ward, 69, of Toms River, has been charged with four counts of second-degree Arson in connection with a fire that was responsible for the destruction of six vehicles.
Wall Township Police say, on Monday evening, September 26, at approximately 10:11 p.m., the police department received a call for a fire at the 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue.
According to Police, upon arrival, members of the department and Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office found six total vehicles on fire.
Officials say, an investigation revealed that Ward of Ward Realty and Insurance in Point Pleasant was responsible for purposely setting the vehicles ablaze.
The estimated value of the damage caused by the fire was over $1 million.