Ocean County Man Accused of Setting Garage Fire Admitted to Starting Fires Before

Ocean County Man Accused of Setting Garage Fire Admitted to Starting Fires Before

A 21-year-old Ocean County man accused of intentionally setting a fire that destroyed a detached garage in Plumsted Township allegedly told investigators he had started fires in the past, according to court documents.

Matthew A. Waldman is facing charges of aggravated arson, arson, two counts of burglary and aggravated assault on a firefighter in connection with the Oct. 10 fire at a property on Maple Avenue.

Authorities said the fire broke out at an abandoned property shortly before 4:30 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find flames throughout a detached garage at the rear of the property. The garage and its contents, including two vehicles, were destroyed.

A female firefighter was injured in the hand while battling the blaze. She was transported to Capital Health at Deborah in Browns Mills for treatment and was later released.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Waldman had been staying inside the abandoned home without authorization and was known to Plumsted police.

Investigators initially questioned Waldman about the fire. He reportedly denied knowing how it started and told authorities that he had seen smoke rising from the property after returning from a trip to a local Wawa and pizzeria.

His account later changed, according to the affidavit.

Waldman allegedly first told investigators that he had lit a leaf on fire outside the garage. He later admitted that he had set a piece of paper on fire inside the garage.

Investigators said Waldman ultimately acknowledged that he was inside the garage near one of the vehicles when he lit the paper, which then led to the garage catching fire. He also allegedly drew a diagram for detectives showing where he had started the fire.

During the investigation, Waldman allegedly told authorities about another incident from his childhood. According to the affidavit, he said he had previously set his carpet on fire in four separate locations, prompting his mother to call the fire department.

Authorities said he was never charged in connection with that earlier incident.

Waldman's public defender told a Superior Court judge during his detention hearing that he had been homeless since he was 18 after being forced to leave his parents' home.

Waldman was released Friday to await trial under pretrial monitoring conditions.

The investigation was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, Plumsted Township Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office and Ocean County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

The charges are allegations. Waldman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.