Setting a house on fire in Long Beach Township with a couple of mattresses January 21 brings charges of arson and burglary against a Ship Bottom man.

Ocean County Prosecutors say Colin D. Kerlin, 28, allegedly set fire to the unoccupied West Scott Drive home in the Holgate section of the township after breaking in through a second story window.

He then piled mattresses on top of each other in the master bedroom and lit them on fire using a butane lighter.

Kerlin then bolted from the home but not before witnesses were able to spot him long enough to give police a description.

His Tuesday arrest comes along with charges for 2nd Degree Aggravated Arson and 3rd Degree Burglary.

Kerlin is lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The scene on the day of the fire was secured by Long Beach Police who received assistance from Deputy Fire Marshall Brian Mount and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit.

The subsequent investigation was run by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit, Long Beach Township Police Department, Ocean County Sherriff's Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office.

Colin Kerlin. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
Colin Kerlin. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
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