A Pleasantville man is in jail after he allegedly set a van on fire because the owner is Mexican.Robert Evans, 29, poured gasoline on the van that was parked on Route 40 under the Atlantic City High School overpass in the city Sunday, Sgt. Kevin Fair said.When the owner, who was fishing nearby, saw this, he confronted Evans, according to the report.Evans then asked the man if he was Mexican.When the man said he was, Evans allegedly threatened him and then set the van on fire, leaving the gas can directly in front of it.Sgt. Chris Miller quickly found Evans and arrested him, Fair said.Atlantic City firefighters put out the fire, which left significant damage to the van, Fair said.Evans is charged with first-degree bias intimidation, aggravated arson and criminal mischief.He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766 or anonymously text tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
Note: The Atlantic County Justice Facility no longer provides mugshots to the media, citing the Atlantic County prosecutor’s order. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office says it’s part of the Attorney General’s Guidelines. There is no such guideline, according to the Attorney General’s Office, but they have told these offices for years that they should not release any photos that appear to be mugshots.
