A Bronx man is accused of turning a quiet Fort Lee parking lot into the scene of a car fire, then bolting across the river to New York. Prosecutors say 43-year-old Deszon J. Moore set a vehicle ablaze in the early-morning incident, sparking a multi-agency arson investigation. The car was reported burning Wednesday on Bergen Boulevard and the Fort Lee Fire Department quickly knocked down the flames.
Once firefighters had the blaze under control, Fort Lee detectives brought in county arson specialists from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The office maintains an Arson Squad and a county arson task force that routinely assist local departments when a vehicle fire looks suspicious, handling on-scene examinations and collecting physical evidence.
According to Daily Voice Fort Lee, investigators say Moore poured an accelerant on the vehicle before lighting it. Prosecutors have charged him with aggravated arson, arson, criminal mischief and hindering his own apprehension. He was tracked down and arrested in the Bronx with help from the New York City Police Department and remains in custody in New York while authorities work through the extradition process to bring him to Bergen County.
Legal stakes
Under New Jersey law, aggravated arson is classified as a second-degree offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1 when a fire is started in a way that places other people at risk. The statutory language and precedent on aggravated arson prosecutions are detailed in New Jersey case law.
What happens next
If Moore is extradited to Bergen County, prosecutors will determine the formal charging and arraignment steps in Superior Court and present the case to the appropriate tribunal. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, which regularly pursues arson-related charges, is expected to provide further updates as the extradition and court process move ahead.
