Prosecutor Mark Musella of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of a 27 year old man named YAUHENI E. LIAKHNOVICH this Monday. The unemployed River Road resident was arrested on charges of Aggravated Arson and criminal mischief.
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The investigation was a cooperative effort directed by Chief Jason Love of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Fair Lawn Police Chief Glen Cauwels, and Sheriff Anthony Cureton of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 11, 2021 in the early morning hours, Fair Lawn PD received information regarding an ongoing fire behind the B&B Deli located at 12-17 River Road. It was discovered that wooden pallets had caught fire from an unknown source, causing the flames to spread within the general area. The fire resulted in damage to a nearby vehicle before the Fair Lawn Fire Department was able to safely extinguish the pallets. In addition to the efforts on behalf of the Fair Lawn Fire Department, the police sought the assistance of the Arson Task Force from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, who responded to the scene.
Later this month at approximately 4:15 a.m. on September 20, 2021, the Fair Lawn Police Department received a report of a car fire on Hopper Avenue. The Fair Lawn Fire Department was able to secure the scene and extinguish the vehicle.
About an hour later at 5:19 a.m., Fair Lawn police responded to yet another vehicle fire. A car parked in the parking lot of the Chase Bank on River Road became enflamed and was extinguished by the Fair Lawn Fire Department.
Results of the investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Task Force and the Fair Lawn PD confirmed that all three of the fires were set by the same man: YAUHENI E. LIAKHNOVICH. Both departments concluded that these fires were set intentionally.
At the conclusion of the investigation, LIAKHNOVICH was arrested and charged on two counts of second-degree aggravated arson and one count of third-degree criminal mischief. He is currently awaiting his appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court of Hackensack, while remanded to Bergen County Jail for the time being.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella reaffirmed that the defendant LIAKHNOVICH is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, explaining that the charges are nothing more than accusations until his case has reached an official verdict.
