SURF CITY – A Pennsylvania woman was charged with setting a home on fire and eluding police, authorities said.
Juliette Tournier, 29, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, was charged with Aggravated Arson in connection with an incident that occurred in Surf City on February 19. This charge is in addition to charges filed against Tournier in Ship Bottom on February 20 for Eluding and Receiving Stolen Property.
Around 8:40 p.m. on February 19, police and fire personnel were dispatched to a house fire on North Central Avenue. While extinguishing the fire, a firefighter sustained injuries and was brought to Southern Ocean Medical Center. He was treated for his injuries and subsequently released, authorities said.
While investigating the fire, officials determined that there were two separate origins for the fire – one upstairs and one downstairs. It was also determined that in both cases, the fire was caused by someone using an open flame on ignitable liquids.
Around 8:20 p.m., police pulled over a Honda HRV that was traveling westbound on Route 72. The driver pulled over and stopped at the top of a bridge. The officer approached and asked the driver, later identified as Tournier, to drive over the bridge in order to conduct a safe stop. However, the Honda sped off and failed to pull over. For safety reasons, the officer terminated the pursuit, authorities said.
According to police, the license plate attached to the eluding vehicle had been stolen from a similar Honda in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Detectives were able to identify Tournier as the person who stole the license plate.
The following day, Tournier was charged with Eluding and Receiving Stolen Property and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
It was also later determined that Tournier was responsible for setting the fires at the home in Surf City on February 19.
Tournier was then charged with Aggravated Arson on February 25. Tournier surrendered herself to the Surf City Police Department the following day and she was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where she is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Surf City Police Department, Ship Bottom Police Department, Cherry Hill Police Department, Horsham Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with these investigations.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
