Ocean County forest fire arson suspect left cigarette filters at scene, affidavit says
MANCHESTER - A township man accused of intentionally setting multiple forest fires around Ocean County left cigarette filters at the scene, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Asbury Park Press.
Gregory Fullman Jr., 32, was arrested Jan. 31, and charged with 25 counts of aggravated arson, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said.
The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Fullman is responsible for the forest fires in Little Egg Harbor on May 16 and Dec. 8, Manchester on Dec. 1 and Dec. 16 and Lakewood on Dec. 1 and Jan. 21.
No injuries were reported in the fires, but the Little Egg Harbor fire on May 16 burned more than 600 acres of Bass River State Forest and reached the backyards of multiple homes near the wooded area, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities found 16 half-cut cigarette filters, two empty packs of Marlboro 100s and a Bang energy drink can with a traces of liquid inside and on the lip of the can in the forest, according to the affidavit.
Investigators were able to determine that the cigarettes and energy drink were purchased at a Wawa in Tuckerton, according to the document.
More: Manchester man charged with 25 counts of arson in Ocean County forest fires
Authorities obtained surveillance footage from the Wawa and spotted a man leaving the store on camera who they believed was Fullman. Investigators determined that photos of Fullman on his social media profiles resembled the man on surveillance footage and that he was even wearing the same clothes in one of his photos as the subject on camera, according to the affidavit.
The vehicle registered in Fullman’s name, a silver 2012 Ford Focus SE, also resembled the car that the man on camera can be seen pulling away in, the document said.
A DNA test from the cigarette filters was also a match to Fullman, according to the affidavit.
After discovering this evidence in August, police attempted to locate Fullman, but could not find him at his Manchester residence or his grandmother’s home in Red Bank, according to the document.
Four months later, 12 small fires were ignited in the same day in Little Egg Harbor and investigators found 11 discarded cigarette filters near the scene, according to the document.
More: Manchester man charged with 25 counts of arson in Ocean County forest fires
Around the time of the second Little Egg Harbor fire and the Manchester fires in September, a Manchester Township police officer pulled Fullman over while he was sitting in his silver Ford Focus on a private road. The officer noticed that Fullman’s vehicle matched the description of the vehicle that had been seen on surveillance cameras and was suspected to be involved in intentionally setting the two Manchester fires, the affidavit said.
The officer noticed many filters that had been ripped off of cigarettes scattered inside the car as well as scratches on the side of the vehicle and dirt on the tires. A further search of the vehicle turned up two lighters, a matchbook, paper towel with motor oil on it, a sharpening stone and a small shovel, according to the document.
Authorities then got a warrant to place a tracking device on another vehicle that Fullman had been using. The device indicated that he revisited the locations of previously set fires and traveled to Airport Road in Lakewood on Jan. 21, where three small fires ignited that day, according to the affidavit.
He was pulled over and arrested on Jan. 31 while leaving his Manchester home, officials said.
Nicolas Fernandes is the early morning breaking news reporter. A lifelong New Jersey resident, he has previously worked as a features writer and sports reporter. Contact him at 732-540-4401 or nfernandes@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County NJ forest fire suspect left cigarette filters: affidavit
