Pleasantville Man Charged With Bias Crime and Arson

Cops in Atlantic City say a man from Pleasantville was arrested Sunday after pouring gas on a parked van and setting it on fire after threatening the owner due to his ethnicity.

Cops say around 1:30 Sunday, officers and the Atlantic City Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire on the westbound side of Route 40 under the Atlantic City High School overpass.

According to a press release, the van was parked on the shoulder of the road while the owners were fishing. The owner observed 29-year-old Robert Evans of Pleasantville pour gasoline on the hood of the van. When confronted, Evans asked the owner if he was Mexican. After the owner said he was, Evans threatened to assault the owner and set the van on fire.

Evans was arrested and the the van sustained significant damage, according to police.

Evans has been charged with bias intimidation, aggravated arson, and criminal mischief. He was remanded to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.