A Wildwood man is facing arson charges after he allegedly set his apartment building on fire in November.
Edmir Pepa, 35, was charged with arson and causing widespread injury or damage following an investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Wildwood Police Department, Wildwood Fire Department and Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office.
It was determined during the investigation that Pepa set fire to multiple areas inside his apartment, putting himself and other tenants in the multi-dwelling building in danger, County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Wildwood Police Chief Joe Murphy announced in a news release Wednesday.
On Nov. 22, the Wildwood Police Department was dispatched to a residence for a report of a fire and an injured occupant. Police arrived and attempted to check a second-floor apartment, but heavy smoke prevented entry until personnel arrived from the Wildwood Fire Department.
Fire crews entered the residence and located Pepa, who was removed from the scene, treated and airlifted to a regional hospital. It was later determined that Pepa was also suffering from self-inflicted lacerations, Sutherland said.
Sutherland’s news release did not divulge the location of the apartment building.
Detectives from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and the Wildwood Police Department, along with personnel from the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation, including the review of surveillance footage, multiple witness interviews, and the execution of a court-authorized search warrant.
Pepa voluntarily surrendered to the Wildwood Police Department on Dec. 9 in response to the search warrant. He remains in custody in the Cape May County Correctional Center.
