A local man has been arrested and charged for allegedly setting three fires in Red Bank and robbing a pharmacy in Little Silver. These crimes occurred within about 12 hours of each other earlier this week, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Thursday.
According to officials, Anthony Sambogna, 24, of Red Bank is charged with second-degree Robbery and three counts of second-degree Aggravated Arson.
The first of the three arson incidents took place at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Monday, July 25, when an accelerant was used to start a small fire in the parking lot of Red Bank Catholic High School on the 100 block of Broad Street; the fire went out on its own prior to the arrival of police officers just minutes later.
Later that same day, at approximately 11:20 p.m., an accelerant was used to start a second fire along exterior natural gas meter lines leading into the back of a bagel shop on the 300 block of Broad Street.
That fire also went out on its own after initially going unreported, but a second fire ignited on shrubbery at the same location a little more than an hour later; it was put out by a responding police officer using a fire extinguisher.
An investigation involving members of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Red Bank Police Department led to Sambogna being identified as a suspect in the incidents, and he was arrested without incident on the 600 block of Branch Avenue in Little Silver early on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 26.
Sambogna was subsequently lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a detention hearing to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.
The investigation also revealed that Sambogna had allegedly robbed a pharmacy on Prospect Avenue in Little Silver at approximately 5:25 p.m. the day before his arrest, threatening a clerk while demanding that he empty the contents of a cash register.
Particularly in light of the repetitive nature of these offenses, anyone with information about these or similar incidents is being urged to contact MCPO Detective Aaron Shaw at 800-533-7443 or Red Bank Police Department Sgt. James Deponte at 732-530-2700.
Two images of the defendant, to include a driver’s license photo and a more recent photo, are being distributed along with this press release.
“Many thanks to all of the various personnel involved in this collaborative investigation leading to the arrest and charges filed against this defendant.
The speed and diligence demonstrated by all involved in this investigation is appreciated, especially in light of the deeply dangerous, worrisome conduct that could have easily resulted in a tragic outcome,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said.
The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau. Information about Sambogna’s legal representation was not immediately available.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendants have all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.