North Bergen police are continuing to investigate whether a township resident, arrested for allegedly setting three fires to garbage cans on Bergenline Avenue, is tied to a major fire that damaged a home and two automobiles on 82nd Street last Monday – around the same time the other fires were being set.
Police arrested 28-year-old resident Pedro Rovira of Fulton Street last week and charged him with aggravated arson for allegedly setting fire to garbage cans on the corners of 79th and 81st streets and Bergenline Avenue, and for allegedly trying to set a fire to another garbage can at 85th Street and Bergenline Ave.
According to Lt. Joseph Bode, police responded to a call at about 3 a.m. last Monday that a witness spotted someone setting fire to the garbage cans along the avenue.
“The witness said that he tried to stop the guy from setting the third fire and he sprints off into the [North Hudson Braddock] park,” Bode said. “The witness followed him and told our officer that he was hiding behind bushes in the park.”
Bode said that Patrolman David Gusk went into the park found Rovira exactly where the unidentified witness said he was.
“The witness identified him as the one who set the fires, so we arrested him,” Bode said.
However, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue and the township’s police then responded to a call at 3:20 a.m. that a major fire had broken out at 814 82nd St., on the corner of Fourth Avenue.
“There were two cars on fire and the side of the house,” Bode said. “The owner was not home, but firemen forced the door down of the second floor apartment and evacuated two women and an infant from the second floor.”
Bode said that it was more than ironic to have a major fire taking place within blocks of the arsons of the garbage cans.
“A reasonably prudent person would realize that there could be some correlation, but without proof, we can’t tie them all together,” Bode said. “At this point, he is the primary suspect and the investigation will continue.”
Bode credited the work of Gusk and fellow officer John Sanford for finding Rovira so quickly and also aiding with the fire on 82nd Street.
“There were heavy smoke conditions at the house,” Bode said. “The quick work saved three lives.”
Rovira was charged with two counts of aggravated arson, which is a charge for endangering the welfare and safety of the public. The charges could be increased if the investigation determines that he had involvement in the other more substantial fire.
Rovira was transported to the Hudson County Jail in Kearny and made an appearance in Central Judiciary Processing Court Wednesday morning.