A Toms River man has been charged with aggravated arson, burglary and bias intimidation after authorities said he broke into a Manchester Township home, set a fire and carved antisemitic messages inside.
Dalin Brown, 24, was charged April 1 with aggravated arson, burglary, bias intimidation, criminal mischief and criminal trespass in connection with incidents that occurred March 29 in Manchester Township, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Police were called March 30 at about 9:55 a.m. to a residence on 12th Avenue for a report of a burglary.
Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department found an extinguished fire in the living room and observed antisemitic carvings on an interior door and walls. Authorities said the residence was under construction and unoccupied.
Investigators determined the fire originated along the south wall of the living room and was intentionally set.
Police later identified Brown as the person responsible for breaking in, starting the fire and carving the antisemitic messages, authorities said.
Brown was taken into custody at Manchester Township police headquarters without incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he was being held Wednesday pending a detention hearing.