Man Set Fire To Girlfriend's Bergen Apartment, Tried Killing Her: Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A man was charged with attempted murder and aggravated arson after he reportedly tried to kill his live-in girlfriend and set their apartment on fire, said Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal.

Elmwood Park police received a 9-1-1 call shortly after 3 p.m. Monday from a woman reporting domestic violence, Grewal said. The woman said that Sharrod Stewart, 23, her boyfriend assaulted and choked her inside their apartment, he said.

The woman also said Stewart tried to re-enter the apartment after the alleged assault by breaking an apartment window, the prosecutor said.

The woman called 9-1-1 again to report a fire at the apartment; police later arrested Stewart near Elmwood Terrace, Grewal said.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Task Force investigated and determined that Stewart intentionally set the fire at the apartment, the prosecutor said. Stewart placed a laundry bag full of clothes in front of the apartment and set it on fire, he said; flames spread to the roof of the porch with the victim inside the apartment.

Stewart was charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated arson and aggravated assault. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, Grewal said. A first appearance court date was not set as of Tuesday morning.

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Photo: Sharrod Stewart, 23 — Bergen County Prosecutor's Office