Man Connected to Two Fires Prior to Toms River Gym Blaze

According to an affidavit submitted in the case, a Berkeley Township man who is accused of starting a fire outside Planet Fitness on Sunday is connected to two other fires that occurred in the hours preceding the gym incident.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Joseph R. Mansueto, 38, has been charged with aggravated arson and criminal mischief in relation to the incident at the gym in the Toms River Shopping Center on Route 37.

Authorities said the fire was promptly put out after it was reported outside the building at 3:41 a.m. on Sunday.

At 3:26 a.m., a person wearing a blue trench coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, a blue scarf, blue jeans, and black sneakers was seen by investigators watching surveillance walking in front of the gym in one direction. Two minutes later, the same individual was seen walking past in the opposite direction.

The affidavit states that the fire at Planet Fitness was reported at 3:41 a.m.

According to the affidavit, detectives later discovered that firefighters had been dispatched to the Toms River Bus Terminal at 400 Highland Parkway at approximately 3:20 a.m. due to a fire in a garbage can.

Surveillance footage from the bus station revealed an individual wearing the same attire as in the Planet Fitness video lighting a piece of paper on top of a trash can beneath the overhang. According to the affidavit, the individual walked around smoking a cigarette before throwing the lighted paper into the trash can, which caused the contents to catch fire.

The surveillance film was taken on Sunday at around 2:40 a.m.

Additionally, investigators discovered that on Saturday night, firefighters and Toms River police responded to a report of an open fire in the alley close to Jembro at the Toms River Shopping Center. According to the affidavit, a man who was in the vicinity identified himself as Mansueto. According to the affidavit, he received a warning before being freed.

According to the affidavit, Lt. Brad Frank of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office saw a person who fit the description in the Planet Fitness video while driving down Route 166 in Beachwood.

The individual introduced himself to Frank and Beachwood police as Mansueto. According to the complaint, Mansueto was arrested and brought to Beachwood Police headquarters because he had a warrant for failure to appear. There, he asked for a lawyer and refused to answer any questions.

Regarding the fire in the bus terminal trash can, no charges have been filed.