Cliffside Park man accused of leaving fire burning inside his apartment
Authorities say Christopher Perez, 40, left his apartment at 238 Palisade Ave. shortly after the fire began on Sunday.
More Stories
A man faces charges for failing to report a fire burning inside his apartment in Cliffside Park, according to Bergen County prosecutors.
Authorities say Christopher Perez, 40, left his apartment at 238 Palisade Ave. shortly after the fire began on Sunday.
The Cliffside Park Police Department and Fire Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Arson Squad that the fire appeared suspicious in nature. Authorities say the apartment was unoccupied at the time because Perez never notified authorities about the fire after it spread.
Prosecutors say during an investigation, a white powdery substance believed to be crack cocaine was found inside the apartment.
Perez faces several charges, including endangering the life of another, failure to take responsible measure to put out or control a fire and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was transported to Bergen New Bridge Medical Center for a medical evaluation and is due to appear in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.
