SOMERVILLE, NJ (Somerset County) – A Somerset County man has been arrested in connection with a commercial/residential arson that occurred in June in Somerville, according to Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller.
On Tuesday, June 4, at around 2:03 p.m., the Somerville Fire Department and Somerville Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire on West Main Street. The fire was a four-alarm blaze, Mueller said.
The fire caused severe damage to the building and neighboring residential and commercial structures, displacing numerous residents. Thanks to the quick response from first responders, all occupants of the buildings were safely evacuated and uninjured. One Somerville Police officer sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital, where he was subsequently released. Four firefighters also sustained minor injuries—two were treated at the scene and cleared, while the other two were treated at the hospital and later released, Mueller said.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Amr Khodeer, 24, of Somerville was seen leaving the basement of the building on West Main Street, where the fire originated, just as smoke was observed coming from the building behind him, Mueller said.
Shortly thereafter, a construction vehicle was stolen from Union Street in Somerville. The vehicle was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed, driving recklessly, and striking two motor vehicles and a structure in the Township of Bridgewater before becoming disabled. The driver, Khodeer, fled the vehicle and was apprehended by officers from the Bridgewater Police Department, Mueller said.
One of the drivers whose vehicle was struck by Khodeer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the accident. He was found to have fresh burns on his extremities and was also transported to a hospital for treatment, Mueller said.
On June 4, Khodeer was arrested and charged with third-degree theft of a motor vehicle, along with numerous motor vehicle summonses. He was initially lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending his court hearing and was later transferred to the Morris County Jail. The charges were subsequently upgraded to second-degree theft of a motor vehicle due to the value of the stolen construction vehicle, Mueller said.
Further investigation by the Somerset County Arson Task Force determined that the fire originated in the basement of the building and was intentionally set. The burns sustained by Khodeer were found to be consistent with injuries from being near a fire, Mueller said.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Khodeer was charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated arson. He was served with his criminal complaint at the Morris County Jail, where he is currently being held on previous charges stemming from this incident, Mueller said.
