Manalapan Teens Started Fire In East Brunswick Garage, Police Say

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Surveillance cameras at the Old Bridge Turnpike parking garage showed a group of teens starting a small fire last week, and throwing things off the upper decks, East Brunswick police said.

Within the past year, police set up surveillance cameras in the parking garage. On Friday, Dec. 8, officers said they watched as a group of teen boys started a small fire on the ground floor of the garage. The young men could also be seen throwing items down to the next level of the parking deck.

Upon arrival, patrol units located all four individuals, three adults and one juvenile, as well as a car with a broken front window. The four teens were arrested at the scene. Robert Santiago, 19, and Nyle Clark, 19, both of Manalapan, NJ, and Christopher Lehr, 18, of Monroe, were arrested, as was a juvenile teen under 18.

They were charged with trespassing, criminal mischief and open burning.

The East Brunswick Township Transportation Center Commuter Parking Deck is located at 551 Old Bridge Turnpike and many East Brunswick commuters park there. Police said they set up the cameras to deter local teens from hanging out there and causing mischief.

Google Earth screenshot of the Old Bridge Turnpike parking garage.