View Larger Map Fired cabbie charged in arson Friday, September 11, 2009 A Jersey City cab driver who was fired on Tuesday has been charged with trying to torch the nine-unit apartment building where the taxi company office is located, officials said. Raheem Johnson, 30, of Webster and Reservoir avenues, was charged with aggravated arson in connection with the fire at the office of Bergen Taxi at Summit Avenue and Newkirk Street, earlier that day, Fire Director Armando Roman said yesterday. "He was bent on getting even with the company, but at the same time he put their lives at risk, he also put at risk everyone who lives in the building," Roman said, referring to the building which also has four commercial units. "When you use something so flammable as gasoline, there is no question what your intentions are." On Tuesday morning, firefighters responded to the fire in a garbage storage area against the building's rear wall and were able to put out the flames before they could spread, Roman said. Arson investigators determined the area had been dowsed with gasoline and ignited, Roman said. Investigators also learned that Johnson had been fired earlier that day and afterward had made threats, Roman said. Johnson was in prison from March 30, 2001 to Aug. 3, 2001 on convictions for drug distribution and drug distribution within 1,000 feet of school property, according to state corrections records, which show the crimes were in Essex County. MICHAELANGELO CONTE