BOONTON — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Boonton Police Officer-In-Charge Captain Chris Petonak confirmed that Davon Fields, 45, of Newark, has been charged in connection with a commercial warehouse fire that occurred in November 2024 in the Town of Boonton. It is alleged that Fields stole copper products and later set a fire to conceal the theft.
At approximately 8:13 p.m. on November 3, the Boonton Police and Boonton Fire Departments responded to a commercial warehouse fire at 95 Fulton Street. The fire was observed in the warehouse and separately secured areas leased by a pharmaceutical supply company. The Boonton Fire Department extinguished the two-alarm blaze with the mutual aid companies from surrounding jurisdictions.
Subsequent investigations identified multiple points of origin, a heavy petroleum odor, and other signs that the fire had been intentionally set. Investigators recovered a gasoline-type canister nozzle and obtained video surveillance showing two masked individuals entering the warehouse shortly before the fire. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that approximately $233,000 worth of copper materials had gone missing from the interiors of equipment belonging to another company using the warehouse.
Further investigation revealed that the warehouse manager, Davon Fields, was in the area of the warehouse late at night on November 1 and again on November 3, 2024, at the time of the arson. It is also alleged that Fields visited a scrapyard on November 1 and November 2 and sold significant quantities of copper on both occasions.
On January 13, 2025, Fields was charged with numerous crimes, including two counts of Aggravated Arson (crimes of the second degree), two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Arson (crimes of the second degree), three counts of Burglary (crimes of the third degree), Theft (a crime of the third degree), three counts of Criminal Mischief (crimes of the third degree), Fencing (a crime of the third degree), Attempt to Tamper with Evidence (a crime of the third degree), Attempt to Hinder (a crime of the third degree), and Possession of Burglary Tools (a disorderly person offense)
Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Fields has been detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.
Prosecutor Carroll recognized and commended the extensive investigative efforts that went into this case, including by members of the Town of Boonton Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Arson and Environmental Crimes Unit with assistance from the Special Operations Division.
Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
