Toms River Man Admits Torching $1M Worth Of Commercial Vehicles

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Toms River man who owned an insurance business in Point Pleasant Beach has admitted he set fire to a group of commercial vehicles at a Wall Township business in 2022, authorities announced Friday.

Harcourt "Paul" S. Ward, 70, pleaded guilty to third-degree arson before Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn on Jan. 2, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond. S. Santiago and Wall Township Police Chief Sean O'Hara said in a joint news release.

The plea agreement includes the recommendation for Ward to be sentenced to serve three years in state prison, authorities said. He is scheduled for sentencing on Friday, March 22, authorities said.

The guilty plea stems from an investigation that began Sept. 26, 2022, when Wall police responded to a fire reported at 10:11 p.m. at the 1900 block of Atlantic Avenue.

At the property police found six vehicles on fire, authorities said.

Police and the Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office determined four fires had been intentionally set by Ward, causing more than $1 million in damage, authorities said.

Authorities have not said what Ward's motive was for burning the vehicles.