Two Lakewood teenagers charged with attempted arson at fast-food restaurant

Pair accused of throwing several incendiary devices

By BONNIE DELANEY
TOMS RIVER BUREAU

Two township residents were charged Friday afternoon with attempted aggravated arson and possession of a destructive device after they allegedly threw four Molotov cocktail-type devices at the KFC restaurant at 140 E. Kennedy Blvd. while the restaurant was closed.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said that Tyler C. Clark, 19, of Pawnee Road and Suzannah Kindig, 18, of Caranetta Drive were arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Bail for each was set at $50,000 with no 10 percent option by Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels.

Lakewood police said both are now free on bail.

Mohel said that two of the incendiary devices landed inside the restaurant after two windows were broken when they were thrown.

Two others were thrown at the building but did not land inside, he said.

"An accelerant was utilized, and it was lit before being thrown but it did not result in a fire," he said.

Investigating are Detective Oscar Valmon from the Lakewood Police Department, Investigator Tom Haskell of the Ocean County prosecutor's arson unit, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigations and Canine units and the Ocean County Fire Marshal's Office.