SOMERVILLE – Six months after a fire severely damaged two Main Street restaurants and apartments above them, a city resident has been charged with starting the blaze.
Amr A. Khodeer, 24, was charged Wednesday with two counts of second-degree arson, according to Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller.
The investigation revealed that Khodeer left the basement of the King Tut restaurant on West Main Street on June 4 around 2 p.m. with smoke coming from the building behind him, authorities said.
A short time later, a construction vehicle was taken from Union Street a few blocks away and drove recklessly from the scene, striking two motor vehicles and a structure in Bridgewater before becoming disabled. The driver of one of the vehicles struck by the construction vehicle was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries
Khodeer was the driver of the stolen vehicle, Mueller said, and he fled after the crash but was apprehended by Bridgewater police.
Khodeer had fresh burns on his extremities and was taken to the hospital for treatment, Mueller said.
Mueller said the Somerset County Arson Task Force determined the fire was intentionally set in the basement of King Tut. It was also determined that Khodeer’s burns were consistent with the origin of the fire.
Later that day, Khodeer was charged with third-degree theft of a motor vehicle and several motor vehicle summonses.
After an initial hearing in Somerset County Superior Court, Kodeer was transferred to the Morris County Jail, where he remains.
Due to the value of the construction vehicle, the motor vehicle theft rate was upgraded to the second degree.
Second-degree crimes carry a possible prison sentence of five to 10 years.
The four-alarm fire destroyed King Tut and neighboring Mike’s Courtside Kitchen and damaged other Main Street businesses. The buildings housing the two restaurants have been condemned and await possible demolition.
All residents of the buildings were safely evacuated and were unharmed.
A Somerville police officer suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, where he was subsequently released. Four firefighters also suffered minor injuries. Two were treated at the scene, while the other two were treated at hospital and later released.
Fifteen fire companies from Somerville, Finderne, Bound Brook, Hillsborough Station 37, Hillsborough Station 36, Martinsville, Franklin Fire District 27, Franklin Fire District 56, Country Hills Fire Department, Green Knoll, Manville, Warren Township, Raritan Borough, Lyons VA, North Branch and Liberty Corner responded to the fire that flared up later that day.
Emergency medical personnel from Somerville, Martinsville and Green Knoll also responded to the scene. Officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office assisted Somerville Police with traffic control in the affected area. Personnel from the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, including the Somerset County Fire Coordinator, assisted with a unified command consisting of fire and police personnel.
Detectives from the Somerville Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Fire Investigation Unit and the Somerville Fire Department investigated the fire.
Anyone with information about the arson is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331 or via the STOPit app. . Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential.
Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerville NJ Main Street fire suspect charged with arson
