Authorities announced the arrest of Sharrod Stewart, 33, of Elmwood Park, on charges of Attempted Murder, Aggravated Arson, and Aggravated Assault.
The arrest came about as the result of joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, and the Elmwood Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Foligno.
According to police, Monday at approximately 3:08 p.m., the Elmwood Park Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting an incident of domestic violence.
The victim reported that her live-in boyfriend, Stewart, had assaulted her and choked her inside their apartment before leaving.
The victim further reported that he forcibly attempted to reenter the apartment after the assault, breaking an apartment window in the process. Thereafter, the victim called 9-1-1 a second time to report a fire at her apartment.
Stewart was arrested by patrol officers from the Elmwood Park Police Department in the vicinity of Elmwood Terrace.
Subsequent investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force revealed that the fire at the victim’s apartment was intentionally set by Stewart. He reportedly placed a laundry bag full of clothes in front of the door to the victim’s apartment and set it on fire, causing flames to spread to the roof of the porch to the apartment while the victim was inside.
As a result of the investigation, he was arrested and charged with one count of Attempted Murder, one count of Aggravated Arson, and one count of Aggravated Assault.
He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail.
His first appearance date has not yet been set in Hackensack at Central Judicial Processing.