Hispanic New Jersey man charged with arson in massive Bound Brook fire

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2020/01/14/new-je...nd-brook-fire/

New Jersey man charged with arson in massive Bound Brook fire
By Craig McCarthy
January 14, 2020 | 4:34pm


Juan Hector Padilla
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office


A 28-year-old man allegedly sparked the massive seven-alarm inferno that tore through a Central Jersey main street over the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators say Juan Hector Padilla was spotted several times near the construction site of the Meridia Downtown apartment complex in Bound Brook where the blaze started just before 8 p.m. Sunday night, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson.

The Bound Brook man was arrested Monday on charges of arson and hindering apprehension or providing false information, authorities said.

How the accused firebug allegedly set the blaze is still under investigation.

Shocking video of the towering flames circulated the internet Sunday night moments after the fire started.

No one was injured — but the fire tore through the apartment complex site overnight, spreading to another under-construction apartment building, two homes and an electronics store.