MANCHESTER – A local man received 36 criminal counts of bias intimidation and arson for an anti-Semitic crime spree, officials said.
Ron Carr, 34, of Manchester, allegedly destroyed a home in the Pine Lake Park section of town, and vandalized homes, fences and other property with Nazi symbolism.
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, a home caught fire. A person seen in the area matched the one seen on security camera footage from other crimes. Police arrested him when he was found shortly thereafter in the area of Commonwealth Boulevard and Larchmont Street.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the fire that destroyed the one home and damaged three nearby with heat damage.
“This crime spree and the anti-Semitism that it expressed caused pain, destruction, shock and fear among the residents of Manchester Township,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “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.”
“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 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.
Messina said the passenger in the car was brought to Jersey Shore Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries sustained from the crash.
Mayor Robert 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.
He 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,” he said. “I support the full prosecution of those responsible for these heinous crimes, as I would for any crimes alike.”
Deputy Attorney General Valerie Butler is prosecuting the case for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice in conjunction with Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Angelo. The investigation is being conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit, Arson Squad, and Bias Crime Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the Manchester Township Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Robert M. Dolan Jr.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
