BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) —

It took two weeks of investigating but a man in Boynton Beach is facing charges in connection with setting his own pickup truck on fire.

The fire was reported back on Feb. 10, just after 3 a.m., on SE 1st Street, north of 12th Avenue. At 3:06, it was reported neighbors heard the explosion and called 911.

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue put the fire out and police contacted the registered owner, who lived at an apartment complex in the neighborhood.

According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Joseph Mazza then reported the white Ford F150 Supercab — registered in New Jersey — stolen and later that day, his wife in New Jersey made an insurance claim.

On Feb. 15, after watching surveillance videos, Boynton Beach police determined the pickup had been intentionally set on fire. The next day, they called the state Bureau of Fire, Arson & Explosives Investigations.

According to the arrest report, “Preliminary findings reveal that a white male ignited the driver’s side interior of the vehicle and then fled the area.”

The fire also caused an estimated $60,000 heat and fire damage to nearby AG Electric Company and FPL.

Investigators reported they followed burn patterns and noted the engine and rear truck bed were only slightly burned, but the front compartment was heavily damaged. The origin was found to be on the floor underneath the driver seat, and the fire was classified as incendiary in nature with no other probable causes.

Then, investigators reported looking at four surveillance videos that showed somebody driving the pickup truck and parking it at the fire scene.

The report said, “A balding heavy-set white male, wearing a green colored T-shirt with a large insignia on the back, brown cargo shorts, a watch on his left arm, glasses, and black sneakers with distinct reflectors exits the driver’s door.”

Then, “He walks around to the passenger’s side and opens the door. He then walks back to the driver’s door opens the metal storage box in the bed of the truck. He then opens the driver’s door and enters for a short time. At 0303 hours, the video shows a flash from the passenger compartment from the vehicle and the same white male backing away from the driver’s door waving his arm. There was a faint flash of fire on his right arm. The fire flash is indicative of gasoline vapors being ignited by a spark. As the vehicle is on fire, he walks back toward the driver’s door and grabs a drink, possibly Gatorade, and papers from the truck. He then walks southbound from the truck fire. At 0307 hours, the w/m suspect is seen walking eastbound and entering the [apartment complex]. Note: This is the same location that victim Joseph R. Mazza resides.”

About an hour later, when Boynton Beach police met with Mazza, the detective was wearing a camera and according to the report, “The video of Joseph Mazza is strikingly similar to the video of the white male suspect scene running from the vehicle fire. The only difference is the shirt and shorts.”

The next day, security at the apartment complex gave investigators pictures from an entrance at 3:09 a.m. showing, “a balding heavy-set white male, wearing a green-colored T-shirt with a large insignia on the back, brown cargo shorts, a watch on his left arm, glasses, and black sneakers with distinct reflectors entered.”

And he was “carrying a red-colored Gatorade plastic bottle and papers. This is 3 minutes after the reported fire.”

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Finally, on Feb. 18, a detective spoke to Mazza’s wife in New Jersey using the phone number given by the insurance company, according to the arrest report. It said she told them there was a lien on the pickup truck for $12,000 and “they failed to pay last month’s payment on the loan.” Then, the detective texted a picture from the apartment complex with her husband entering at 3:07 a.m. on the morning of the fire, and “she positively identified” him.

Joseph Mazza is charged with two felonies — second-degree arson and arson with the intent to injure or defraud an insurer — and making a false report of a commission of a crime.

He was arrested Thursday and released on $10,000 bond the next day.

Source: https://cw34.com/news/local/arson-joseph-mazza-pickup-truck-fire-boynton-beach