Middlesex County Man Deliberately Started Fire That Killed Dog, Cat, Prosecutor Says

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ — A New Brunswick man is criminally accused of starting a fire at a Somerset apartment building, killing a family's dog and a cat that perished in the blaze.

Perfecto Quintana, also known as Perfecto Quintana Montes, 56, was arrested Friday and charged with the residential arson.

The fire started at 3:45 p.m. Friday at a four-unit apartment building on Home Street in Somerset, said Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald. One of the apartment was on fire. It was a one-alarm fire but resulted in three families, with four kids, losing their homes. A dog and a cat in the apartment could not be resuscitated, and died at the scene.

After the fire was put out, detectives with the Somerset County Prosecutor's office investigated the scene and Quintana Montes was seen on video arriving at the building in his vehicle prior to the fire.

He was seen approaching the apartment building while carefully carrying a container close to his body and climbing a staircase towards the apartment where the fire started. A short time later, Quintana was seen descending the same staircase carrying the pitcher, which now appeared to be empty with one hand. He then drove away.

Within minutes, the Franklin Township Police Department received a 911 call reporting a fire at the building.

Members of the crowd alerted police to the presence of Quintana driving in the area. Franklin Township Police stopped his car moments after the fire, and he showed signs of intoxication. Quintana was then arrested.

His connection to the apartment building was not revealed by the Somerset County Prosecutor.

He was charged with second-degree Aggravated Arson, second-degree Residential Burglary, fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, fourth-degree Criminal Contempt and two counts of fourth-degree Animal Cruelty.

Quintana is currently being held at the Somerset County Jail.