Arson

A Michigan fire department is facing a second lawsuit over the line-of-duty death of a firefighter in 2013. The suit was brought by property owners who claim they were unfairly targeted as arson suspects in an effort to divert attention from the mistakes that led to the death of Wayne-Westland firefighter Brian Woehlke.

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A volunteer firefighter in New York has been convicted of burning two buildings that stood between his house and the house of his then-girl friend, so he could have a clear line of sight. Michael Watzka Jr. was convicted last week by an Ulster County jury. He was a member of the East Kingston Fire Department.

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Arson charges against two volunteer firefighters from the Central Islip Fire Department have been dismissed following a lengthy trial that raised a number of troubling question about how the case was investigated. Judge John Collins dismissed the charges against Stephen Hernandez and Weldon Drayton.

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Last week the Texas Court of Appeals ruled that when firefighters discover evidence of a crime at a fire scene and report it to the police, the police may lawfully seize the evidence without violating the Fourth Amendment. The case involved a fire in Bedford, Texas on August 30, 2017.

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A Massachusetts man who served 30 years in prison for setting a fatal fire in 1982 is now suing those who were responsible for what he claims was his wrongful conviction. Victor Rosario was convicted of arson and murder for starting a house fire in Lowell that killed eight people

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An Oakland captain is suing the city and Fire Chief Darren White claiming he was wrongly passed over for a promotion in the fire marshal’s office because his son was convicted of arson. Captain Howard Holt filed the suit last week alleging race discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, and a host of state law claims.

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The conviction of a man accused of arson and murder for the 2015 fire that killed Hamilton, Ohio firefighter Patrick Wolterman has been upheld by the Twelfth Appellate District Court of Appeals. Lester Parker was charged with hiring his nephew, co-defendant William Tucker, to set fire to Parker’s home in order to collect the insurance proceeds.

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A man who spent five years in prison awaiting trial on arson and murder charges is suing the city of New York, three fire marshals, four police detectives and a police sergeant who he claims illegally coerced a false confession from him.

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A volunteer firefighter with the Longville Fire Department in Beauregard Parish has been charged with arson. Chance Felice was arrested Monday and charged with setting a fire in his own home. He is facing a single count of simple arson.

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A 39-year-old man who was wrongfully convicted of setting a fatal fire in 1993 when he was just 14, is now suing those he claims were responsible for manufacturing a false case against him, including the City of Chicago and a city fire marshal.

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One of the men convicted of setting the 1988 fire in Kansas City, Missouri that claimed the lives of six firefighters has filed suit in federal court seeking addition information about the investigation under the Freedom of Information Act.

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The two most common criminal offenses in the volunteer fire service involve embezzlement and arson. A volunteer from Pennsylvania is heading to prison for setting his own vehicle on fire to cover up his theft of fire company raffle proceeds.

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Fifteen volunteer firefighters in Sicily have been arrested on arson charges. The firefighters from the town of Ragusa are also accused of calling in false alarms. The fires and the false alarms appear to be associated with a scheme to increase their stipends that were tied to responses.

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A 20-year old volunteer firefighter from Indiana who admitted to setting multiple structure fires last year was sentenced today to serve 20 years in prison. Former Perry Township volunteer firefighter Adam Selbee pled guilty to four counts of arson.

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