Newark burglar sets house on fire, jumps from balcony, cops say

NEWARK — An accused burglar threw flaming clothes at police and kicked an officer before jumping off a balcony Sunday night, authorities said.

Police said Naim Workman, 34, put lighter fluid on clothes to set a sofa on fire in the living room on the second floor of a house on Hobson Street around 9:50 p.m.

When police arrived, Workman threw the clothes at officers and jumped out a balcony.

Workman was arrested on charges of burglary, resisting arrest and aggravated assault upon a police officer with other charges pending.

He fought police "violently" on the ground before his arrest, according to RLS Metro Breaking News, which reported that Rutgers University-Newark police helped calm Workman at University Hospital.

The officers also received medical attention for smoke inhalation.

The fire remains under investigation by the Newark Fire Division's arson unit.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ