🚔 Lakewood man charged in connection to Attempted Robbery and Arson

🚔 He held a man up at scissor point and later burned an object outside a local business

🚔 After fleeing multiple times, police were able to track down the alleged suspect


A Lakewood man was arrested on multiple charges in connection to his alleged role in a robbery and fire that occurred in the township late last week.

It was late on Thursday night, around 11:30 pm, when a man entered Lakewood Police headquarters to report that he was the victim of a robbery near Lexington Avenue and Fourth Street, according to LTPD and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The reported victim told police that a man came up to him while he was walking along the sidewalk and demanded money while holding a pair of scissors.

(Photo: Google Maps/Images)
(Photo: Google Maps/Images)
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Police then learned from the victim that he said he pushed the suspect and ran off into a business that was close by while the suspect then fled the area.

As officers were searching for the suspect, they were stopped by a witness on Fourth Street  who alleged that the man they were looking for started a fire behind the business.

The store owner then spoke with police as well.

Prosecutor Billhimer said that as the fire was put out and the area getting cleaned, officers noticed a second fire that was set in the area.

(Photo: Google Maps/Images)
(Photo: Google Maps/Images)
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That was put out but the odor of gas remained in the basement of the three story building housing businesses and residents.

The first fire was set to a sweatshirt, the second to a cardboard box

Authorities on scene determined the fires were set with an ignitable liquid onto an open flame.

Police used descriptions from the robbery and fires and determined that they were looking for the same suspect for both.

Ocean County Prosecutors Office. (Vin Ebenau, Townsquare Media NJ)
Ocean County Prosecutors Office. (Vin Ebenau, Townsquare Media NJ)
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It wasn't long after that when police arrested 21-year old Ricardo Buitron who was later charged with two counts of Aggravated Arson, Robbery, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in alleged connection to the reported robbery and fires.

After processing, Buitron was brought to the Ocean County Jail, where he awaits a detention hearing.

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