A township man faces aggravated arson and other charges after Manchester Township Police responded to a car fire call early Monday morning.
Patrolman Joseph Reilly and Patrolman Michael Anderson were dispatched to 63 Kennedy Drive at 2:26 a.m. on April 28, 2014. There, they found smoke emanating from a 2003 Chevrolet Impala.
The Officers confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle, broke out a rear passenger window and extinguished the blaze. Personnel from the Whiting Volunteer Fire Company also responded to the scene to assist.
The owner of the vehicle, Duane Gay of 60D Kennedy, had permission to park his car in a parking spot belonging to the resident of 63 Kennedy Drive.
During the course of their investigation, the Officers observed signs that the fire may have been intentionally set. A suspect, John Gorman-Lukowicz, 40, of 60D Kennedy Drive, was identified by police.
The suspect later admitted to setting the blaze because he was unhappy with the relationship between his mother and the victim. Authorities charged Gorman-Lukowicz with aggravated arson and he was lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of $35,000 bail, no 10 percent option.
Gorman-Lukowicz was also issued summonses for illegal possession of prescription pills and criminal mischief. Officers also discovered he had outstanding warrants from Hamilton and Greenbrook totaling nearly $600.
Assisting with the investigation were Manchester Township Police Detective Chris Hemhauser, Detective Mitchell Remig from Ocean County Prosecutors Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Fire Marshall Michael Marks, and Detective John Anderson of the Ocean County Sheriff Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit.