By: Richard L. Smith
A 48-year-old Lakewood man has been charged with aggravated arson following an investigation into a structure fire that broke out late last month, authorities said.
According to a statement released by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Yaakov Stern was charged September 3 in connection with an August 25 fire at a property on Delaware Trail.
Lakewood Police and firefighters responded to the location at approximately 9:30 p.m. and found an active structure fire. Crews were able to extinguish the blaze.
An investigation conducted by the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau identified Stern as the individual allegedly responsible for starting the fire, authorities said.
Detectives took Stern into custody on September 3. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.
The investigation involved Lakewood Police detectives, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.