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Vincente Carabello, 55, allegedly started the fire around 11:24 a.m. at the Fairfield Inn on 850 Paterson Plank Road, after getting into an argument with hotel staff, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
East Rutherford officers arrived on scene, with the help of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team’s countywide patrol units, which were in the area. Carabello had fled before officers arrived, police said.
First responders tended to the fire in the hotel room and ensured all guests of the property were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.
An investigation found that Carbello intentionally set fire to his hotel room, activating the sprinkler system and causing damage to the property. Carbello fled the hotel room and physically assaulted a hotel staff member he encountered while fleeing. The staff member was not seriously injured. Carabello was later located by Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Rutherford Police Department.
Carabello was charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated arson, second-degree risk of causing widespread injury and damage, third- degree arson, third-degree criminal mischief, and simple assault, a disorderly persons offense. He was lodged in the Bergen County Jail.
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