Attorney
Washington, D.C. fire investigators are resting a little easier now that a suspected serial arsonist is in police custody. Police arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of intentionally starting three fires in Northeast DC, according to the washingtonexaminer.com. One of the fires severely burned five DC firefighters when a roof collapsed during the blaze.
Officials made the arrest earlier this month after investigating a fire across the street from the site of an April fire that injured the firefighters. According to investigators, the suspect reported nine fires to 911 since 2007. Fire personnel observed the man at the fires taking photos, videotaping, and drinking. After investigators identified the man as a suspect in the fires, they interviewed him and the man became openly hostile. He continued setting fires after knowing police suspected him of arson.
The day before his arrest, someone saw the suspect driving away from a fire in Northeast DC. The suspect then called the DC Fire Department to inform them of the fire. Police arrested him the following day. Officials from the Washington Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted in the investigation.
In the fire this past April, a volunteer fire chief suffered second-and third-degree burns to 40 percent of his body. The burn injuries permanently disfigured him and required over a month of hospitalization. Contact our office today for more information.
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.
Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia Injury Attorneys
Approved by attorney Roger Johnson