Man Sets Gas Can On Fire, Threatens Linden Residents: Police

LINDEN, NJ — A Burlington County man was charged with setting a gasoline can on fire and threatening Linden residents at their home on Wednesday, authorities said.

Desmond E. Hodge, 47, of Southampton Township was charged with second-degree aggravated arson and second-degree making terroristic threats, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Linden Police Chief David Hart jointly announced Friday.

A fire was reported shortly after 12:20 p.m. at a home on the 1300 block of Essex Avenue in Linden. When Linden Police arrived they found a gasoline can on fire in the home's driveway, which had, at that point, partially destroyed a nearby bush, Ruotolo said.

Firefighters quickly put out the flames without any further damage.

Police say that Hodge had allegedly threatened the home's five residents earlier in the day, claiming that a shared relative owed him money. Hodge reportedly said he would return after "going to get gasoline," Ruotolo said.

Hodge was found about 40 minutes after the initial call slowly driving down the Essex Avenue in a silver BMW. Police pulled him over and arrested him.

Hodge was taken to the Union County Jail pending a first appearance and detention hearing scheduled to take place in Superior Court.

Hodge faces 5 to 10 years in state prison on the second-degree criminal charges.

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