Deszon J. Moore
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 43-year-old DESZON J. MOORE of Bronx, NY on charges of aggravated arson, arson, criminal mischief, and hindering his own apprehension. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze.
On March 18, 2026, at approximately 3:46 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department and the Fort Lee Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in a parking lot on Bergen Boulevard. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a fully engulfed vehicle that was ultimately extinguished by firefighters. Following the preliminary investigation and fire suppression efforts, the Fort Lee Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad that the fire appeared to be suspicious. Detectives from the Arson Squad, along with investigators from the Bergen County Arson Task Force, initiated a joint investigation in conjunction with the Fort Lee Police Department. The investigation determined that DESZON J. MOORE intentionally set the vehicle on fire in the parking lot by pouring an accelerant on the vehicle and igniting it. MOORE then fled to the Bronx, NY.
Later that same day, on March 18, 2026, DESZON J. MOORE was located by detectives in the Bronx, NY. With the assistance of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), he was taken into custody. MOORE was charged with second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b(2); third-degree criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(1); and third-degree hindering his own apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1). MOORE remains in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Fort Lee Police Department for its partnership and valuable assistance in this investigation. Moreover, he thanks the Fort Lee Fire Department for their response to the fire scene, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance with the apprehension of the defendant. Finally, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance and participation in the Bergen County Arson Task Force.