Verona man charged with arson in overnight fire at Our Lady of the Lake church

A Verona man was arrested and charged with arson in an overnight fire at a church in the township, according to a press release from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

At about 3:33 a.m. the Verona Police Department received an alarm activation at Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church on Lakeside Avenue.

Police officers and the Verona Fire Department responded and observed a heavy smoke condition. The fire was quickly extinguished.

An investigation was conducted by detectives from the Prosecutor's Crime Scene Investigation's Bureau and the Verona Police Department who determined that the fire was deliberately set and had multiple points of origin.

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At approximately 4:30 a.m., Elliot Bennett, 42, of Verona walked into the Verona Police headquarters and has since been charged in the fire.

Specifically, he has been charged with first degree bias intimidation, second degree burglary, second degree aggravated arson, fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon (two counts), third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (two counts), possession of burglars tools and desecration of venerated objects, which are disorderly persons offenses.

Bennett will remain in the Essex County Correctional Facility pending an appearance in the Essex County Central Judicial Processing court.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Verona NJ church fire leads to arson charge from county