The following message from Montclair State University Police Chief  Paul M. Cell was sent to the University Community today:

After intensive investigation by the Montclair State University Police Department in collaboration with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Fire Marshall’s Office, the Wanaque Police Department, and the Little Falls Fire Department, an arrest has been made in the recent string of intentionally-set fires on campus.

The suspect, Steven Romano, a sophomore at Montclair State, is in custody and will be processed in the Passaic County Criminal Court.  He was apprehended at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, in the vicinity of University Hall moments after leaving the scene of a bathroom fire.

He has been charged with 13 counts of aggravated arson, a second-degree crime that carries penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and/or 10-12 years incarceration.  He is currently being held on $200,000 bail.

We thank all members of the University community for extending their cooperation to the MSU Police Department during this investigation.  The safety and security of our University is a high priority, and we rely on the cooperation of all our students, faculty, and staff to keep our campus a safe environment.