Full Notification

Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III announced that the investigation into an intentionally set fire at the Tewksbury Township Police Department continues; and the reward for information to help close the case has been increased to $3,000.

On Monday, May 18, 2015, at approximately 5:38 A.M., Hunterdon County’s 9-1-1 Center received an alert that fire alarms were activated at the township police department located on County Route 517. On-duty police officers arrived shortly thereafter and observed smoke. The Fairmount and Oldwick Fire Departments along with the Tewksbury Rescue Squad responded and extinguished the fire. The fire was officially ruled an arson by investigators.

According to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III, “Investigators located yellow plastic fuel containers in the vicinity of the fire and it is believed that diesel fuel was brought to the scene in these containers. The yellow containers were painted with unique fleck paint. We are again reaching out to the public for help in identifying who owned or possessed those fuel containers or for any other information that may help the investigation.”

The Prosecutor added, “The person or persons responsible for this act failed in their effort to destroy a building that provides a place for democracy, law, order and the safety to our community. This investigation continues, led by the Hunterdon County Arson Task Force, with the assistance of the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms. We will continue to pursue leads in an effort to apprehend the person or persons responsible for this fire.”

Crimestoppers of Hunterdon County has increased the reward to $3,000 for information leading to the arrest or indictment of those involved in this crime.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 788-1129, or submit an anonymous tips by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-321-0010, or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text message “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download a free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.

Prosecutor Kearns concluded, “Hunterdon County Crimestoppers has pledged their complete support in the pursuit of the individual(s) responsible for this egregious attack on one our county’s police departments. I am grateful for their ongoing support and their relentless effort to aid law enforcement agencies in Hunterdon County.