A man is in custody after attempting to set a building on fire and rob a man with scissors in unrelated incidents, police confirmed to TLS.

Just after 9:30 pm last night, 20-year-old Angel Campos walked into the Lakewood Police Department to report an attempted robbery that had just occurred in the area of Lexington Avenue and Fourth Street.

He further stated that an unidentified male approached him and requested cash while displaying a pair of scissors in his hand. Campos reported he was able to push the male and run into a nearby store located in the 400 block of Lexington Avenue. The suspect fled the area on foot. Campos stated that the suspect was an approximately 20-year-old Hispanic male, wearing a blue sweatshirt with lettering on the back.

Responding officers began canvassing the area looking for the suspect.

While in the area of 207 4th Street, Officer John Ganley was flagged down by a man unrelated to the event. The man informed Officer Ganley that he just witnessed a man set a fire behind a business located on the 200 block of 4th Street. The Samaritan provided the same description as the attempted robbery suspect. Further investigation by the Officer, resulted in confirmation of the witnesses statement. A cardboard box was ignited directly behind the establishment. In addition, he observed a gas can in the immediate area. The small fire was subsequently extinguished.

A short time later, other responding officers located a male matching the physical description in the area of 3rd Street and Clifton Avenue. The male was identified as 21-year-old Ricardo Buitron. He was arrested without incident and transported to Lakewood Police Headquarters.

Additional investigation conducted by Det. Kevin Donnelly, in conjunction with the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Sherriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes-Arson Unit, resulted in criminal charges for Robbery, Aggravated Arson and the Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.