By: Richard L. Smith
A New Brunswick man has been arrested and charged with setting a fire at a Franklin Township apartment building that displaced 15 residents and left two pets dead Friday afternoon.
Perfecto Quintana, also known as Perfecto Quintana Montes, 56, was taken into custody in connection with the October 2 fire at a multi-unit residence on Home Street in Somerset.
Franklin Township Police responded to the property at approximately 3:45 p.m. after receiving reports of an active fire. Several area fire departments responded and extinguished the one-alarm blaze.
The fire damaged the building and displaced three families, including 11 adults and four juveniles. No residents were reported injured.
A dog and cat were discovered inside the residence and later pronounced dead despite efforts to save them.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, investigators conducted a video canvass that allegedly showed Quintana arriving at the residence before the fire while carrying a container close to his body.
Authorities said Quintana was seen walking toward the apartment building and later coming back down the staircase carrying what appeared to be the same container, now empty.
He then drove away, and within minutes police began receiving reports of the fire.
While investigators were still at the scene, people in the area reportedly alerted police that Quintana was driving nearby. Officers stopped him and said he showed signs of intoxication before taking him into custody.
Quintana was charged with aggravated arson, residential burglary, criminal mischief, criminal contempt and two counts of animal cruelty.
He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a court hearing.
The American Red Cross assisted the three displaced families with temporary shelter.