The former Randolph Schools Superintendent is accused of setting a fire at his home that left him hospitalized last month, authorities said Thursday.
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David M. Browne, former superintendent of the Randolph school district. (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office)
David M. Browne, 55, was charged with arson for setting the Oct. 13 fire at a detached garage at his Wyckoff home, according to Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
Browne, who remains hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center, must surrender to authorities within 24 hours of being discharged from the hospital, Molinelli said in a statement.
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Emergency crews responded to the fire and found Browne "suffering from numerous injuries" outside the garage, according to Molinelli.
Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox previously described the injuries as burns and said they were not considered life-threatening.
"The investigation determined that Browne purposely set the fire with the use of an accelerant inside of the detached garage causing the destruction of the structure," the prosecutor said.
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According to a criminal complaint, Browne allegedly committed arson "thereby recklessly placing another in danger of death or bodily injury, specifically by starting a fire in a detached garage, causing the complete destruction of the structure and its contents, a third degree crime."
Officials have remained tight-lipped about the circumstances of Browne's resignation as Randolph schools chief late last month -- 13 days after he was injured in the fire.
The Randolph school board put Browne on administrative leave the same day he was hurt in the fire, but offered no explanation. Browne had been on a family medical leave at the start of the school year in September.
Browne, who had been earning $167,500 annually as superintendent, will also receive a payout of $62,350 for three months of compensation and unused vacation and sick days, Marc Zitomer, the school board's attorney, previously said.
Tammy MacKay, president of the Randolph Board of Education, referred comment on Browne to the Wyckoff Police Department.
"We understand that criminal charges have been filed against Dr. Browne," she said. "We have no information regarding the investigation that led to these charges."
Police have previously declined further comment, citing the investigation.
Browne has not yet responded to several requests placed by NJ Advance Media seeking comment.
Ben Horowitz contributed to this report
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.