A man was charged with intentionally starting a Bayonne apartment fire by lighting cardboard boxes ablaze and then also vandalizing a car in a separate incident, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Christopher Vasseghi, 35, of Newark, is charged with two counts of aggravated arson and causing/risking widespread injury or damage for the first incident and then criminal mischief, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon for the second incident, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.
He was taken into custody at about 5:54 a.m. Sunday from the area of 8th Street and Avenue C under the authority of a warrants issued for his arrest stemming from a previous reported aggravated arson.
On March 9th at about 4:40 a.m., officers responded to 31 East 11th Street on a report of an individual that just started a fire in the third floor hallway of the apartment complex.
The on-scene investigation revealed that an individual had set fire to cardboard boxes and fled the area. The Bayonne Fire Department was able to quickly extinguish the fire before it spread.
An investigation conducted by the Bayonne Police Department Detective Bureau led to Vasseghi being positively identified as the actor and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On
Then on March 11th at about 5:45 a.m., officers again responded to 31 East 11th Street on a report of criminal mischief to an automobile.
Upon arrival, officers observed a vehicle parked on East 11th Street with a shattered windshield and dented hood with a cinder block resting on the hood of the vehicle.
The on-scene investigation determined that on March 10th at approximately 7 p.m., an individual was observed by the victim fleeing from the area after a loud crashing noise was heard. The ensuing investigation led to Vasseghi being positively identified as the vandal.
As of this writing, Vasseghi was already in custody and being processed for the arson incident. He was then additionally charged with the criminal mischief and processed accordingly, authorities said.
