Ex-Boyfriend Tried Blowing Up Bergen Woman's Apartment: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The ex-boyfriend of a Ridgefield Park woman was arrested after police said he broke into her apartment, chained the door shut and tried to set the place on fire.

Officers responded to a report of a burglary at the 5th Street apartment just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, Lt. Joseph Rella said. The officers "noticed a strong odor of natural gas" and found the apartment door chained from the inside, he said.

The officers forced their way in and found stove knobs turned on and a lit candle, Rella said. They immediately shut the gas off with help from PSE&G, who was already there investigating the odor of gas, he said.

Police spoke with the woman who lived there. She said there were "domestic violence issues" with her ex-boyfriend, Richard Prado, 23, of Guttenberg, the lieutenant said.

Daily Voice reported that the woman was not at home when the initial call about the gas was made.

Detectives and the Bergen County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. Detective Sgt. Michael Cmielewski and Detective Nicholas Triano investigated and discovered that Prado was in Ridgefield Park Monday, Rella said.

Police viewed surveillance footage of Prado purchasing the candle that was left in the apartment, Rella said.

Prado responded to police headquarters and spoke with detectives, telling them he was in the apartment and he was the person they saw on the surveillance footage, Rella said.

Prado was charged with two counts of attempted arson, burglary and reckless/widespread damage. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail in lieu of bail, police said.

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