Newark Man Will Remain Detained In November’s Warehouse Fire
Monday, January 27, 2025, 4:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BOONTON, NJ.- Today, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll reported that Davon Fields, 45, of Newark, New Jersey, will remain detained pending trial after being charged with a commercial warehouse fire that occurred in November 2024 in the Town of Booton.
It is alleged that Fields set the fire to conceal his theft of nearly a quarter of a million dollars in copper.
According to Police Reports, on November 3, 2024, shortly before 8:15 p.m., members of the Boonton Police Department and the Boonton Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation at a commercial warehouse located at 95 Fulton Street in the Town of Boonton.
Upon arrival, Police Officers and Firefighters observed heavy smoke and fire in the warehouse area and a second secured warehouse area in the building leased by a pharmaceutical supply company.
The Boonton Fire Department quickly extinguished the two-alarm fire with mutual aid from surrounding fire departments.
Investigators Find The Fire Was Set
During the ensuing investigation, investigators identified multiple ignition points of origin, a heavy petroleum odor, and other evidence that the fire had been intentionally set. Investigators discovered a gasoline-type can nozzle and obtained video surveillance footage depicting two masked individuals entering the warehouse shortly before the fire. Further investigation by Morris County law enforcement uncovered that around $233,000 worth of copper materials had been removed from the interiors of equipment belonging to another company utilizing warehouse space.
Detectives Were Able To Place Fields At The Warehouse
Detectives were able to place the warehouse manager, Davon Fields, in the area of the warehouse late at night on November 1, 2024, and again on November 3, 2024, at the time of the fire.
Police also alleged that Fields visited a scrapyard on November 1st and November 2nd and sold large amounts of copper on both occasions.
On January 13, 2025, Fields was taken into custody and criminally charged by Detectives with multiple offenses, including two counts of second-degree Aggravated Arson; two counts of second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Arson; three counts of third-degree Burglary; third-degree Theft; three counts of third-degree Criminal Mischief; third-degree Attempt to Tamper with Evidence; third-degree Attempt to Hinder Prosecution; and a disorderly persons offense of Possession of Burglary Tools.
After being charged, Fields was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility. Following a detention hearing in Morris County Superior Court a Superior Court Judge ordered Fields to remain detained pending trial.
