Two seen running from scene of middle school fire, police say

Published in the Asbury Park Press 9/09/04

By RODNEY POINT-DU-JOUR
KEYPORT BUREAU

ABERDEEN -- Shortly after smoke was sighted billowing from the roof of the Matawan Avenue Middle School three days ago, two young males were seen fleeing the scene of the fire, police said yesterday.

Aberdeen police and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office are continuing the investigation into a suspicious Labor Day fire at the middle school. Administrators for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District were forced to postpone the reopening of school to Monday, but the fire will not affect today's start of the 2004-05 school year at the district's other six schools.

Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye said officials are interviewing people who attended a barbecue near the school who said they saw two young males running from the school during the fire.

The barbecue was at a house on Myrtle Street, Aberdeen Police Chief Joseph Kelly said.

Investigators spent the last few days interviewing several witnesses, including two other residents who videotaped the fire, Kelly said.

"It's really disrupted the beginning of school (at the middle school) for us," Kelly said. "If we determine this to be truly a crime, we're determined to find the person who did this."

Aberdeen police are also investigating several complaints of vandalism along Grove Street, near the middle school. Obscene phrases and lines were found spray-painted in yellow on several construction vehicles and on two cars parked along Grove Street, and some of the vehicle windows were smashed, Kelly said.

Kelly also said the windows to the middle school nurse's office were smashed in and a cable satellite dish was destroyed.

Police believe the vandalism took place over a two-day period, between Aug. 22 and 24, and was done by juveniles living close to the school, Kelly said.

Both school and police officials would not say whether the recent vandalism and the roof fire are related.

On Monday, classes at the middle school will start on a staggered schedule.

Anyone with more information about the fire can call the Aberdeen Police Department at (732) 566-2057.