Former Morris County School Superintendent Burned in House Fire Charged With Arson

By Daniel Hubbard

The Wyckoff man who was burned after he set fire to his garage has been charged with arson, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

Browne, 55, was injured Oct. 13 when a fire broke out in the detached garage of his Wyckoff Avenue home, police said. Browne was found lying outside the house and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He remains hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center, Molinelli said.

Members of the prosecutor’s office Major Crimes Unit Arson Squad and the Wyckoff Police Department determined that Browne “purposely set the fire with the use of an accelerant,” Molinelli said, which destroyed the garage and everything in it.

Browne was released on his own recognizance on the condition that he must turn himself into authorities within 24 hours of being released from the hospital, Molinelli said.

Browne was superintendent of the Randolph Public School District until He was placed on administrative leave hours after the fire occurred. He resigned from the position last week.

(Pictured: David M. Browne, 55/Courtesy of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office)