Alert Heights officer arrests two in arson

February 4, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO
Phone: (856) 384-5617; Pager (856) 251-4736

An off-duty Woodbury Heights police officer who smelled smoke from a fire at a sprawling nearby former door assembly plant Thursday afternoon, spotted two men walking from the plant when he went to investigate, and his actions lead to the arrest of both on arson and burglary charges.

Ptl Josh Moline summoned Heights Chief George Lindsay and Ptl. Nick DiBiaso to assist in the pursuit of the suspects into a wooded area, resulting in the arrest of Rosario J. Leonardo III (6/3/91) of 746 Purdue Ave., and Roman A. Verdi (DOB 11/16/90 ), both of the Oak Valley section of Deptford Township.

The fire at the former Doorfab plant drew numerous firefighting companies from the borough of Woodbury Heights and surrounding areas because of the size of the vacant building- in excess of 200,000 square feet. There was extensive damage to an office area and the roof of the structure. An inspection by Det. Ron Koller of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and a county Sheriff’s Department K-9 trained for arson cases found indications of an accelerant in the building. Samples are to be sent to a New Jersey State Police lab for analysis.

Leonardo and Verdi are being held in the Gloucester County Jail in Woodbury in default of $35,000 bail.