Playing With Fire: Latest Police Blotter Includes Arson Arrests

 Two men and a 17-year-old were arrested late Wednesday night  by Montclair police who charged them with starting  a fire in a garbage can at Nishuane Park.

Kyle Ball, 19 and Victor White, 18, both of Montclair, along with a 17-year-old male companion were arrested on August 11, around 11:30 p.m. by police. Police were responding to a call that several young men were trying to start a fire in garbage cans at the park.

Reports said that the young men had fled south on Harrison Avenue. Firefighteres were called to Cedar Avenue and High Street to put out a garbage can that was engulfed in flames.

Police found the young men at Harrison Avenue and Warman Street. The three allegedly fled once the police car arrived. They were arrested in a rear yard on Warman Street after a brief foot chase. Ball is suspected of discarding two items in the grass, which police later identified were a lighter and a knife. White also was found by police to have a lighter in his pants pocket.

            Ball was charged with arson, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, and being in a public park after hours. White was charged with arson, criminal mischief, and being in a public park after hours. Bail for Ball and White was set at $10,000.

            The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with arson and criminal mischief. He was later remanded to the Essex County Youth House in Newark.

Also just in from Lt. Scott Buehler of the Montclair Police Department:

Warrant Arrest

 A 46-year-old Jersey City man was stopped at Cedar and Harrison Avenues on August 11, about 6:35 p.m. after police discovered there was an outstanding warrant for the his arrest.

Michael Bensusan, was arrested based on a warrant issued by the city of Newark after police pulled him over in his Chevy Blazer. His bail was set at $750.

       Burglary

        Police responded to a multi-family home on Ramsey Road at 9:55 a.m., on Wednesday, August 11 after receiving a report of a burglary. The caller said a housekeeper had arrived at around 9:20 a.m. and found overturned jewelry boxes in two of the second-floor bedrooms. A check of the residence revealed an unlocked door and window. A list of possible stolen items is still being completed as of this date. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at 973-509-7543.

Warrant Arrest

            On Wednesday, August 11 at about 10:40 a.m., police responded to the Paterson Police Headquarters to assume custody of Rakeem Brown, who had an active warrant out of Montclair with bail set at $1,055. Brown, 27, of Paterson, was placed under arrest and transported to Montclair Police Headquarters.