Man Set Fire To Gym In Toms River, Prosecutor Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An Ocean County man has been charged in connection with a fire set at Planet Fitness on Sunday, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Joseph Mansueto, 38, of Berkeley Township, was charged with aggravated arson and criminal mischief in connection with the incident, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

The fire at Planet Fitness on Route 37 was reported about 3:40 a.m. Sunday, and police and firefighters found a small fire outside the building, authorities said.

The fire was contained to the outside of the building, authorities said.

Investigators found the fire started at the exterior southwest corner of the building and had been caused by someone setting fire to "available combustibles," the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators were able to identify Mansueto as the person who set the fire, authorities said. They did not say how he was identified. He was arrested on Monday, authorities said, and was being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The prosecutor's office did not give any information about a possible motive.

The Arson Squad of the prosecutor's office, detectives from the Toms River Police Department, the Toms River Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s K-9 Unit, Beachwood Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit investigated.