Have You Seen Him? Cops Say Man Lit Fires to Main Street Businesses

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man suspected of lighting fires to three separate objects on Main Street in Hackettstown in the early morning hours on Thursday, April 16.

Hackettstown police responded to Topo Restaurant at 218 Main Street for a report of criminal mischief at 10:30 a.m., Sgt. Darren Tynan said. Police found a table umbrella had been burned and the cause of the fire was a “direct ignition source,” Tynan said.

On the same day police responded to 210 Main Street for a report of a burglary at 210 Main Street, Tynan said. An investigation revealed a suspect entered the structure and attempted to light the plastic coverings that were placed on the windows due to renovation on fire, Tynan said. That fire was also started by a direct ignition.

Outside of 210 Main Street the suspect attempted to light the coax cable on fire, police said.

Earlier that day, at 4:25 a.m., police and Hackettstown firefighters responded to a dumpster fire in the rear of Michael’s Salon at 220 Main Street, police said.

Surveillance footage showed a person using a lighter to ignite the umbrella, walk away, and watch it burn, Tynan said.

Surveillance also showed the suspect walking on Route 46 east and onto West Plane Street. Approximately five minutes later, the vehicle in surveillance photos was seen leaving West Plane Street and turning left onto Route 46 west, Tynan said.

Just 10 minutes later, the same vehicle was observed traveling west on Route 46, going past the scenes of the fires, Tynan said.

It is not yet known if the vehicle is related to the crimes.

All three incidents occurred on April 16 between midnight and 5 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hackettstown Police Department at 908-852-3300 or 908-852-3302.

Pictured: Surveillance photos of the man suspected of lighting fires to three objects on Main Street in Hackettstown. Photos Courtesy Hackettstown Police.

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