Somerville man charged with arson in Main Street fire that destroyed several businesses
SOMERVILLE - Six months after a fire severely damaged two Main Street restaurants and apartments above them, a borough man has been charged with setting the fire.
Amr A. Khodeer, 24, was charged Wednesday with two counts of second-degree aggravated arson, according to Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller.
The investigation found that Khodeer was seen leaving the basement of the King Tut restaurant on West Main Street as smoke was coming out of the building behind him at about 2 p.m. June 4, authorities said.
A short time later, a construction vehicle was taken from Union Street a few blocks away and was seen speeding away from the scene in a reckless manner and striking two motor vehicles and a structure in Bridgewater before becoming disabled. The driver of one of the vehicles hit by the construction vehicle was taken to the local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries
Khodeer was the driver of the stolen vehicle, Mueller said, and he fled after the crash but was apprehended by Bridgewater Police.
Khodeer had fresh burns to his extremities and was taken to the hospital for treatment, Mueller said.
Mueller said the Somerset County Arson Task Force determined that the fire was intentionally started in the basement of King Tut. Khodeer's burns were also determined to be consistent with the origin of the fire..
Later that day Khodeer was charged with third-degree theft of a motor vehicle and several motor vehicle summonses.
After an initial hearing in Somerset County Superior Court, Kodeer was transferred to the Morris County Jail where he remains.
The motor vehicle theft charge was upgraded to second-degree because of the value of the construction vehicle.
Second-degree crimes carry a possible prison sentence of five to ten years.
The four-alarm fire destroyed King Tut and the neighboring Mike's Courtside Kitchen and damaged other Main Street businesses. The buildings occupied by the two restaurants have been condemned and are waiting possible demolition.
All occupants of the buildings were safely evacuated and were uninjured.
One Somerville Police officer sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, and was subsequently released. Four firefighters also sustained minor injuries. Two were treated at the scene while the other two were treated at the hospital and later released.
Fifteen fire companies from Somerville, Finderne, Bound Brook, Hillsborough Station 37, Hillsborough Station 36, Martinsville, Franklin Fire District 27, Franklin Fire District 56, Country Hills Fire Department, Green Knoll, Manville, Warren Township, Raritan Borough, Lyons VA, North Branch, and Liberty Corner responded to the fire which flared up later that day.
Emergency medical personnel from Somerville, Martinsville, and Green Knoll also responded to the scene. Officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office assisted Somerville Police with traffic control in the affected area. Personnel from the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, including the Somerset County Fire Coordinator, assisted with a unified command consisting of fire and police personnel.
Detectives from the Somerville Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Fire Investigation Unit and Somerville Fire Officials investigated the fire.
Anyone with information about the arson is asked contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331 or via the STOPit app. . Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerville NJ Main Street fire suspect charged with arson
