Prosecutor says no evidence of criminality in Paterson DPW office fire
By Paterson Times Staff
Published: August 26, 2016
There was no evidence of “criminality” in a fire that damaged an office at the Department of Public Works headquarters at Eastside Park on Monday, according to a press release issued by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.
Fire department responded to the fire at 800 Broadway on Wednesday afternoon. Passaic County arson squad opened an investigation into the fire on the same day.
Fire was contained to a kitchen and was quickly put out with minimal property damage, authorities said.
Councilman Andre Sayegh said the fire happened at the office of public works supervisor Joseph Mania.
There was speculation as to what was burned in the fire. City officials said no records were destroyed in the fire.
Mania is one of several employees that allegedly handled private projects for Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres while billing the city overtime, according to an NBC New York investigation.