Man Sets Home on Fire Following Argument with His Girlfriend: Police

A 50-year-old man has been arrested after being accused of setting fire to a New Jersey home following an argument with his girlfriend.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Sept. 3 at around 2:58 a.m. local time, the South Brunswick Police Department received a 911 call asking officers to make Leonard Jones IV leave the property following a “dispute” with his partner, per a release obtained by PEOPLE.

“As officers were responding a second 911 call reported the house was on fire. The first officer arrived within a minute and observed fire through the home’s roof,” the release, also shared on Instagram alongside multiple photos of the fire, added.

Police Chief Raymond Hayducka confirmed Jones’ arrest, with the release stating the suspect, from South Brunswick, had been charged with aggravated arson and domestic violence.

Officers said the three people in the 155 Old Beekman Road property made it out safely, in addition to the suspect. Deputy Chief James Ryan confirmed to PEOPLE that it was the girlfriend’s parents’ home that had been set on fire.

“Jones was lodged in the Middlesex County Correction Center pending his first court appearance,” the release stated.

“The 2-alarm fire was fought by all three Township fire companies — Kendall Park, Monmouth Junction, Kingston, and several surrounding communities fire department. The Kendall Park, Monmouth Junction, and North Brunswick EMS all responded,” police confirmed, sharing a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing the firefighters at work.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.    

Per WABC, officers were aware of some issues in the household the night prior to the fire.

“We were here two times earlier, once for a noise complaint at about midnight, that noise was abated, and then we got a call about 10 minutes before the fire that there was an out-of-control male at the residence, officers then got a call a fire had broken out, seemed to be out of control, officers responded, by the time they got here, the house was fully engulfed,” South Brunswick Police Department Detective Tim Hoover said, according to the outlet.

The investigation is ongoing.