MANCHESTER – Members of the community, including builders, contractors, neighbors and congregants from churches and synagogues are donating their time and resources to help Angel and Brenda Rivas, whose home was destroyed in what police say is an act of arson and a hate crime.
A construction crew came out with equipment to clear the debris in the first step toward the total rebuild of the home at 1932 First Avenue in Pine Lake Park.
“Brenda had graduated from Manchester Township High School. The couple are business owners in Beachwood and they have been with their parents to build a home and they were investing money into building that home and the completion date was supposed to be this fall and sadly that home was completely destroyed,” Mayor Robert Arace said during the latest council meeting.
He told residents that the family didn’t have the proper amount of insurance on the house under construction which is “fairly typical before the home is completed. They didn’t take out builder’s risk insurance. They are sadly out of $160,000.”
You can reach out to the mayor’s office to assist the effort and also visit the Go Fund Me page at gofundme.com/f/rebuild-rivas-pine-lake-park?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
The Lemonade Stand was also operational last weekend and was set up by resident Arielle Gluck who may do so again. “Boulder Petroleum owned by a resident in Manchester came out and started the clearing process. Folks volunteered to reframe the home and contribute lumber. We are trying to project manage this and see how our citizens can become involved in rebuilding it,” Mayor Arace said.
Local Man Charged
Manchester resident Ron Carr, 34, received 36 criminal counts of bias intimidation and arson for a hate crime spree, according to authorities. Carr allegedly destroyed the Rivas home and vandalized homes, fences and other property with Nazi symbolism.
Township police started receiving calls about the vandalism the night of June 6, learning of 14 homes that were targeted. In the early morning hours of June 7, the Rivas home caught fire and a person seen in the area matched the one seen on security camera footage from other crimes.
Police arrested Carr when he was found shortly thereafter in the area of Commonwealth Boulevard and Larchmont Street. This wasn’t Carr’s first run-in with the law. In 2021, he told police he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a pole in Toms River. He later admitted to using methamphetamine.
No injuries were reported from the fire that destroyed the Rivas home and damaged three nearby with heat damage.
Officials Condemn Bias Crimes
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said, “this crime spree and the anti-Semitism that it expressed caused pain, destruction, shock and fear among the residents of Manchester Township. No community in the State of New Jersey should feel vulnerable or anxious in the face of acts of intolerance. No resident should feel their personal safety or their home is threatened by bigotry, persecution and violence.”
“This will not stand, and I commend the law enforcement professionals from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Manchester Township Police Department, and the Division of Criminal Justice for their dogged pursuit of the suspect and this quick arrest,” he added.
“I am thankful no one was injured in these senseless acts of bigotry and hate. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in Ocean County and the seriousness of these charges reflect our unwavering commitment to prosecuting bias crimes to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.
The first-degree charges of Bias Intimidation carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. The second-degree charge of Aggravated Arson carries a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The Arson charge is a third-degree charge which can lead to a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
The difference between Arson and Aggravated Arson is that Aggravated Arson was done specifically to put someone’s life in danger. Some of the Bias Intimidation charges were also third degree. The fourth-degree offenses of Criminal Mischief could lead to up to 18 months in state prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Mayor Arace told The Manchester Times “These actions have no place in our town, state, or country, and I will continue to advocate for unity. My administration values the concerns of all our residents and encourages you to share your thoughts on this matter. Together, we can work towards maintaining the distinct character of our town and creating a thriving community of which we can all be proud.”
“As your mayor, and neighbor, I am appalled by these actions and will not stand for such harm done to any of our residents. I fully condemn acts of vandalism in our town, but more specifically and emphatically, acts of vandalism fueled by hatred,” the mayor added.
Arace also noted the fact that this arson placed neighbors at high risk as forest fires continue to rise in frequency and strength. “I applaud our police force and fire department’s efforts to ensure our safety. I support the full prosecution of those responsible for these heinous crimes, as I would for any crimes alike.”
“I applaud the outstanding work of our dedicated patrol officers and the detectives who executed a thorough investigation. I am immensely proud of their efforts which led the apprehension of a suspect,” Township Police Chief Robert Dolan Jr. said.
