Cops: Man set ex-girlfriend's N.J. home on fire, texted photo of it to friend
01/02/2019 8:55 am PST
By Aliza Chasan, WPIX
HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (WPIX) -- A New Jersey man allegedly set fire to his ex-girlfriend's home while eight people slept inside and then texted a photo of the burning home to a friend.
Somerset County prosecutors say 34-year-old Patrick Hammond, of Somerville, is charged with arson and attempted murder. It's not known if he's retained an attorney.
Hammond allegedly set fire to the Hillsborough home around 12:40 a.m. Sunday.
The residents, who range in age from 4 to 64 years old, were able to safely escape. But the fire severely damaged the home.
Prosecutors say Hammond ran off but was less than a mile away from the home when officers found him about an hour later. He eventually was taken to a hospital for an evaluation because he was acting erratically at police headquarters.
FULL STORY: Cops: Man set ex-girlfriend's NJ home afire, texted photo of it to friend - WPIX
