Toms River Man Sets Fire/Seeks Suicide at Hand of Police

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele today announced the arrest of a Toms River man for deliberately setting fire to his car in order to draw police officers to the scene in hopes of committing “suicide by cop”.

Just after midnight, Berkeley Police Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of Bubbakoo’s Burritos on Atlantic City Boulevard in Berkeley Township for the report of a car fire. Upon their arrival witnesses stated they spoke to a male subject that told them he set his car on fire.  Witnesses stated further that the subject left the scene southbound on Route 9.

Utilizing the witness’ description, Berkeley Officers quickly located the suspect, Thomas M. Foti, 26, of Toms River near the Walgreens on Route 9 in Bayville.  Foti was armed with a pointed shard from a flower pot he broke at a florist he passed as he fled.  Berkeley Police Officers showing tremendous restraint subdued Foti without incident and transported him to Berkeley Police Headquarters.

During the course of the investigation it was learned that Foti set his 2005 Toyota on fire by utilizing two small gasoline containers he bought earlier in the night at the Hess gas station in Bayville.  Foti allegedly put gasoline on his hat and lit the hat on fire throwing it towards his car.  The investigation learned further that it was Foti’s plan to take a large knife that he had in the car and confront the police once they arrived in hopes of committing “suicide by cop”, but he forgot the knife in the burning car.  He instead left the scene, broke the flower pot to collect the shard and phoned a Suicide Prevention Hotline before being taken into custody by the responding Berkeley Officers.

Thomas M. Foti was charged with Aggravated Arson and bail set by Superior Court Judge Joseph L. Foster at $150,000 with no 10% option.  Foti was subsequently transported to Community Medical Center for Psychiatric Evaluation.

Berkeley Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI, and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

###

 

Follow the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor online at Twitter and Facebook.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  The OCPO does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.

For additional information visit our website at oceancountyprosecutor.org.