$3M In Damage To Gloucester Twp. Hotel In Fire; Woman Charged

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Gloucester Township woman has been charged with arson and other offenses after a fire caused more than $3 million in damage to a Howard Johnson hotel earlier this year, police said.

Dannielle Monroe, 27, was arrested following a lengthy investigation into the fire, which occurred at the hotel at 832 North Black Horse Pike in the Blackwood section of the township on March 3, Gloucester Township police said on Wednesday.

The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m., and arriving officers found heavy smoke and fire coming through the roof, police said.

Gloucester Township Emergency Medical Services, the Gloucester Township Police Office of Emergency Management, and Camden County Office of Emergency Management responded to the scene. About 47 guests were displaced from several hotel rooms, but no one was injured, police said.

After the New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Service determined that the fire had been started intentionally, it entered into a lengthy investigation alongside Gloucester Township police.

Investigators determined that Monroe was the last person to have left the room where the fire began, police said. Investigators then executed search warrants and conducted interviews that eventually resulted in Monroe being charged, police said.

Monroe was charged with third-degree arson and third-degree criminal mischief. Monroe was charged on a criminal summons pending a future court appearance.