Arrest Made in String Of Englewood Arson Fires


Suspect Marcos Antonio Rene, a 24-year-old laborer from Englewood, NJ.


By MELANIE BENCOSME pix11.com
June 12, 2012
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. (PIX11)—


An illegal Guatemalan immigrant was arrested Monday in connection to a recent string of arson fires in Englewood, New Jersey, police said.

According to authorities, Marcos Antonio Rene, a 24-year-old laborer from Englewood, was charged in the arson fires that occurred on both May 27 and June 11.

In the May 27th fires, five parked vehicles were set on fire at around 3 a.m. along West Palisades Avenue, as well as a residential home located at 146 West Palisades Avenue. At the time of the fire, four people were inside the home. The house fire was extinguished quickly and sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported. Three of the vehicles however, were completely destroyed. An investigation determined that the fires were arson.

In the late morning on June 11, the Englewood Police Department received yet another 911 call reporting a car fire. The 1998 Honda Civic sustained significant damage and it was again, determined to be arson. About an hour later, a witness flagged down a passing patrol car and reported that a man had lit a car on fire at 29 West Demarest Avenue. The witness gave a description of the suspect and a search led officers to Rene.

At the time of his arrest, Rene was in possession of a forged Social Security Card and a forged Resident Alien Card, police said.

Rene, a Guatemalan citizen who has been living illegally in the United States for the past two years, has been charged with eight counts of second degree aggravated arson, four counts of first degree attempted murder, and one count of fourth degree possession of fraudulent government documents, officials said.

His bail has been set at 2.5 million dollars and a first appearance has not yet been set.

It wasn’t immediately clear if Rene had a connection, if any, to the owners of the vehicles or home he allegedly set on fire.

Arrest Made in String Of Englewood Arson Fires - WPIX