South Jersey Teen's Arson Spree Destroyed Historic Theater Site, Vehicle, Shed: Prosecutor

WOODBURY, NJ — A teen deliberately set three fires in one week throughout Woodbury, including one that destroyed the former site of a longtime community theater, authorities said Monday.

Michael M. Lopez-Medina, 19, also set a vehicle and a shed on fire during the first week of February, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office (GCPO). The Woodbury resident was charged Sunday with three counts of aggravated arson (second-degree) and one count of aggravated assault (firefighter injury, third-degree).

The Woodbury resident was arrested early Sunday morning and placed in the Salem County Correctional Facility, pending further legal proceedings.

The suspect set a vehicle on fire Feb. 1 on Salem Avenue — two days before setting a shed ablaze at the Carriage House Apartments on N Evergreen Street, the GCPO said.

Last Wednesday, Lopez-Medina burned the vacant building on 433 Glover St., which was built in 1889. The three-story facility had served as the West End School's original location before the Sketch Club — a former performing-arts group — made it a local community theater.

• Read more: Fire Destroys Historic Building, Longtime Home Of NJ Theater Group

Photos of the aftermath — shared by the Woodbury Fire Department — show a hollowed-out, smoky interior with a massive pile of rubble spilling out a side of the building that was destroyed. A demolition crew reached the scene to assist with overhaul and investigation efforts.

The prosecutor's office and Woodbury police collaborated to investigate the incidents, realizing that the prospect of additional fires "posed a significant risk to the community," the GCPO said in a news release.

The investigation remains ongoing. Any witnesses with information can call GCPO Det. Alex Phillips at 856-384-5529 or Det. Brandon Volk of the Woodbury Police Department at 856-845-0065 ext. 144. Information can also be emailed to the prosecutor's office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.