A Manville man is free on bail after being charged with arson in a Dec. 4 shed fire in the borough.
Brian Gluch, 35, of South 18th Street, has been charged with two counts of arson in the third degree and trespassing, a disorderly persons offense.
Prosecutor Soriano states that on Dec. 4, 2013, at about 1:56 a.m. members of the Manville police and fire departments were dispatched to a shed fire at the rear of a South 18th Avenue residence. The fire destroyed the shed and its contents, valued at $2,000 by the owner. The fire additionally damaged a detached garage also located to the rear of the property.
Members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force, along with detectives assigned to the Manville Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, responded to investigate the fire, which was deemed to be suspicious.
The investigation revealed that the cause and origin of the fire was ruled to be intentionally set fire employing an ignitable source to the shed.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Gluch was seen fleeing the area before the shed was seen on fire.
On Jan. 27, detectives interviewed Mr. Gluch.
Mr. Gluch was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set by the Superior Court Judge Robert Reed at $20,000, with the ability to put down 10 percent in cash.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, the Manville Borough Police Department at 908-725-1900, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Or people can go online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All calls will be kept confidential.
Police note that the charges are an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
