Two Pine Hill residents charged in fire that destroyed playground, causing $75,000 in damage
Nearly a week after a fire destroyed a Pine Hill playground, two suspects have been taken into custody and charged with intentionally setting the blaze.
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Two Pine Hill residents have been charged with setting fire to the playground at the Charles Bowen Recreational Complex in the borough, causing $75,000 worth of damage to the playground and adjacent concession stand, authorities said Friday.
Christian Taunitas, 21, and a 16-year-old boy whose name was not released were arrested Thursday in connection with the weekend fire. The arrest came police reviewed surveillance footage from John H. Glenn Elementary School, located about a half-mile from the playground.
The fire "was a significant impact to the community,” said Pine Hill Police Chief Christopher J. Winters. "To be able to use our community partnerships, including the school and the fire department, we were able to make a quick resolution.”
On Saturday, two Pine Hill police officers and 15 firefighters from three departments — Pine Hill, Gloucester Township, and Berlin Borough — arrived at the playground minutes after a resident reported the blaze at 5:11 a.m.
Hours earlier, around 2 a.m., the school surveillance video shows the two suspects lighting various fires on the grounds of Glenn Elementary, police said. The suspects left the school when a vehicle drove through the parking lot. These fires did not cause any damage, Winters said.
Taunitas was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree arson and was being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility. The 16-year-old was charged with third-degree arson and sent to the Camden County Juvenile Detention Center. The two were also charged with trespassing and “creating dangerous conditions” at the elementary school.