Owner Faces Bribery Charges After New Jersey Diner Goes Up In Flames

VERNON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The owner of a popular North Jersey diner is facing bribery charges after the business was destroyed by a fire.

CBS2's Tony Aiello reported Wednesday drama is surrounding the fire that consumed Jerzees Diner in Vernon Township.

The first went up in flames last week and now the owner, Tina Diakos, has been charged with impeding the investigation into the fire.

"That she offered money or compensation in exchange for a witness or an informant, not to provide information, or to provide false information to law enforcement," Seana Pappas of the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office told CBS2.

CBS2 has learned that surveillance video shows someone driving up to the diner – which was then closed – shortly before the fire erupted. The fire has been ruled suspicious.

"Very bizarre. I'm interested to see what's going to happen," Lynn Leadem of Vernon Township told CBS2.

Evidence was collected before the rubble was carted away as it was shared with experts at the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.

"It's pretty intense what's going in here. Lot of suspicion going around," gas station owner Kyle Ryan told CBS2.

Investigators indicated to CBS2 there will be additional developments regarding the diner's fire soon.