TOMS RIVER – A 59-year-old man was arrested and charged with starting a fire at an apartment complex in Toms River Tuesday, authorities said.
Around 11 p.m., police and fire personnel responded to Winteringham Village located on Route 166 for a structure fire. When they arrived on scene, they found the fire had already been extinguished.
After an investigation, authorities discovered that the fire had originated in the living room and the cause being “by an unknown person(s) using an open flame to ignitable liquid,” authorities said.
Kevin Funchess, 59, of Toms River was identified as the person responsible for setting the fire and was taken into custody at the scene without incident. He was thereafter transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for shortness of breath. However once medically cleared, he will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail where he will remain lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 Unit, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation.
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.
