Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ALEXANDER REGALADO (DOB: 8/14/2003) and a juvenile from Ridgefield, NJ on arson related charges. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love, and the Palisades Park Police Department under the direction of Officer In-Charge Captain Anthony Espino.
On Monday July 4, 2022 at approximately 5:49 pm, the Palisades Park Police Department received a 9-1-1 from a passerby who relayed a smoke/fire condition at 20 Fairview Street, Palisades Park, NJ. First responders arrived on scene and began fire suppression activity which lasted approximately six hours in order to place the fire under control.
The ensuing investigation revealed ALEXANDER REGALADO and a JUVENILE had intentionally set the fire.
On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, ALEXANDER REGALADO was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); second-degree attempt to cause widespread injury or damage, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2a(1)/5-1; second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2; second-degree employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a; third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b; and a disorderly persons offense of criminal trespass, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3a. REGALADO was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.
On this same day, the JUVENILE was arrested and charged for committing offenses which as an adult, would constitute second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); second-degree attempt to cause widespread injury or damage, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2a(1)/5-1; second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5- 2; third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b; and disorderly persons offenses of criminal
trespass, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-3a and shoplifting, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11b. The JUVENILE was remanded to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would also like to thank the Palisades Park Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
