Man Set Jersey Shore Apartment On Fire, Prosecutor Says

WILDWOOD, NJ — A man is accused of setting multiple fires to a Wildwood apartment complex, injuring himself, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said.

On Nov. 22, Wildwood police went to an apartment for the report of a fire and an injured person,

Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Chief Joe Murphy of the Wildwood Police Department said.

Police tried to enter a second-floor apartment but were unable to due to heavy smoke, officials said. The Wildwood Fire Department arrived and found Edmir Pepa, 35.

Pepa was airlifted to the hospital for treatment; he was also suffering from self-inflicted lacerations, officials said.

An extensive investigation followed, officials said, including review of surveillance footage, multiple witness interviews, and the execution of a court-authorized search warrant.

It revealed that Pepa had set multiple areas in his apartment on fire, putting himself and other tenants in the multi-unit dwelling in danger, officials said.

Pepa was charged with second-degree arson and second-degree causing widespread injury or damage. He surrendered to Wildwood police on Dec. 9. Pepa currently sits in the Cape May County Correctional Center.