Fire Rescue News - Pleasantville firefighters find store owner bound inside burning building; police searching for arsonist

By ELAINE ROSE Staff Writers | Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 | 9 comments

PLEASANTVILLE — A co-owner of a convenience store on Main Street was knocked unconscious and tied up before the store was set on fire, displacing the family that lived upstairs, police said Friday.

Police and firefighters were called to the store on the 100 block of North Main Street at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, after residents of the upstairs apartment....Continue Reading

 smelled smoke, went outside to investigate and found the store's co-owner bound outside, police Capt. Rocky Melendez said.

Muhammad Ali Ghazanfar, 25, told police that someone entered the store and knocked him out, Melendez said.

"When he came to, he was outside, bound up and the store was on fire," Melendez said.

Battalion Chief John Quigley said fire investigators classified the fire as aggravated arson, meaning it had been set to cover the commission of a crime. Police did not say whether anything had been stolen.

Firefighters arrived at 11:30 p.m. to heavy black smoke, Quigley said. They entered the building to find heavy fire in the back of the store.

A family of four adults, one child and one infant were evacuated from an upstairs apartment, Quigley said.

Two city engine companies and one ladder company responded to the fire. Engines from Absecon and Pleasantville assisted.

In all, 24 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was brought under control shortly after midnight. Quigley said the American Red Cross helped find accommodations for the family.

The smell of smoke was still evident Friday afternoon, and the Pleasantville Convenience store was closed.

Next door, Yasir Khan, owner of Pleasantville Smoke Shop, sat outside with the door open as he waited for his landlord to arrive to inspect the damage. As customers approached the shop, Khan had to turn them away.

Khan said his shop suffered smoke and water damage and that the ceiling had collapsed.

His security company called him late Thursday night to inform him of the fire, Khan said. By the time he arrived at about 1:15 a.m. Friday, the firefighters were finishing up their work.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has other information is asked to call Pleasantville police at 609-641-6100.

Staff Writer Lynda Cohen contributed to this report.

Contact Elaine Rose:  609-272-7215  ERose@pressofac.com