Police: 2 in Ocean County, NJ, Charged For Arson, Painting Swastikas

Two people in Ocean County are facing charges in connection to a series of crimes over the past several days.

On Tuesday, 19-year-old Alexander Gerber and 20-year-old Connor Dougherty, both of Lacey Township, were each charged with arson and four counts of criminal mischief.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office says the spree started on November 21st when Lacey Township Police Officers discovered a fire in the women's restroom in Gille Park. An investigation determined that the fire had been intentionally set.

On November 26th, officers again responded to the same park and they found graffiti, including swastikas, spray-painted in various locations along with more damage to the women's restroom.

Two days later, Lacey Township Police found graffiti, which included swastikas, on a clothing bin located at the Mill Pond Basketball Courts as well as on the back of the ShopRite building on North Main Street.

An investigation led to the identification of a Chevrolet pickup truck as being associated with one of the incidents.

This past Tuesday afternoon, officers spotted that truck driving on Deerhead Lake Drive. Gerber, who was driving the truck, was taken into custody without incident.

More police work revealed that Gerber and Dougherty allegedly acted together in damaging and setting fire in the women's restroom and painting graffiti at all three locations.

Dougherty surrendered to police on Tuesday.

Both Gerber and Dougherty are being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.