Crime & Safety
Port Reading House Fire Ruled Arson
A former Carteret police officer is accused of setting fire to his home.
A fire at the Port Reading home of a former Carteret police officer has been ruled arson, authorities say.
David Boland, 52, a retired officer of 13 years with the Carteret Police Department was arrested and charged Wednesday with one count of aggravated arson after he surrendered himself to Woodbridge Police, according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Boland's house at 15 Goodfellow Drive in Port Reading was the site of a large fire on October 20 that started on the first floor of the house and burned for about two hours.A neighbor saw smoke coming from the house around 12:34 a.m. and called police, according to the release.
No injuries resulted from the fire.
Boland is currently being held at the Middlesex County jail in North Brunswick with bail set at $150,000, according to the release.
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He retired from Carteret police on a disability pension in October 1998, according to the release.
“Aggravated arson recklessly endangers the lives of first responders and neighboring residents,’’ Acting Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said, in a prepared statement. “I commend the efforts of the firefighters and members of law enforcement who worked quickly to extinguish the fire and alleviate any further risk to life,’’ he said.
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