Angry Mobs Concern Police After 'Wildfire' Arrest
POSTED: 12:48 am EDT May 15,
2008
UPDATED: 11:07 am EDT May 16,
2008
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Sheriff's deputies tightened security at the Brevard County Jail early Thursday because of the potential of an angry crowd showing up and "mobbing" a man being questioned about several home-destroying fires.
LISTEN: 911 Call
IMAGES: Crowder Taken Into Custody
RELATED: Crowder Guarded After Bounty Offered
IMAGES: Wanted: Dead Or Alive
Brian Crowder, 31, will be charged with one count of unlawful burning of land for a brush fire that was started Wednesday and will be charged with another count of unlawful burning of land after he tried to light fires while fleeing police during a chase, police said.
Early Thursday, deputies did not allow people to park near the entrance of the Brevard County Jail because of the potential of citizens coming and potentially mobbing Crowder while being escorted by officers.The security comes after some homeowners expressed anger after hearing that one person may be responsible for a majority of 12 Palm Bay fires.Good Samaritan Matt Samaco said he wanted to get a hold of Crowder after seeing him allegedly trying to start a fire and choke him out."I wanted to do what everyone else in Palm Bay wanted to do and put him down," Samaco said. It's a good thing that (police) caught him and I didn't. Let's leave it at that."Also, "Dead-Or-Alive" posters appeared around the city offering a bounty for the arsonist who sparked the wildfires that destroyed 22 homes.The reward posters read, "Wanted: Palm Bay/Malabar Arsonist, May 11 and 12."There is a reward offered for the person dead or alive -- no questions asked.
Brian Crowder, 31, will be charged with one count of unlawful burning of land for a brush fire that was started Wednesday and will be charged with another count of unlawful burning of land after he tried to light fires while fleeing police during a chase, police said.
Mom's Call Leads To Arrest
Meanwhile, a woman and her son are being credited with initiating the police manhunt that led to Crowder's capture.The woman made the 911 call at 4:18 a.m. Wednesday."On the Internet and my 19-year-old son was getting ready to take the trash out," a caller told a 911 dispatcher. "He says he saw a black car go down our street or something and throw something in the woods, catching the woods on fire by our house.""Your son saw this?" a 911 dispatcher said."I see it. I see it. You see orange right here in the middle. We're on Alvarado Avenue," the woman said.After the call, Good Samaritan Matt Samaco also spotted the man police identified as Crowder starting a fire near his property."I saw (the man) and he was squatted down by the sign and he had a long wire and was trying to light a fire," Samaco said. "That's when I said, 'Hey, S.O.B.' He then got up and hauled butt. I kicked my gate open and chased him up through his woods."Police with K-9s eventually captured Crowder near Southwest Middle School, located at 451 Eldron Blvd. S.E.Crowder was taken into custody by police but was transported to Palm Bay Community Hospital with bite wounds from a K-9.Crowder was arrested for six violations of probation warrants. Officers said they were investigating any links to at least 11 other suspected arsons this week.Police said more than 60 officers and a helicopter were involved in Wednesday's search.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story. Previous Stories:
- May 14, 2008: 911 Call From Mom Leads To Capture Of 'Person Of Interest' In Wildfires
- May 14, 2008: Hundreds Flood 911 During Fla. Wildfires
- May 14, 2008: Firefighter Loses Home In Brush Fire
- May 14, 2008: Fires Continue To Burn In Central Fla.
- May 14, 2008: 'Person Of Interest' In Central Fla. Wildfire Arsons Arrested Near Fire
- May 14, 2008: Wildfire 'Person Of Interest' Guarded After Bounty Offered
- May 13, 2008: Bounty Put On Wildfire Arsonist After 160 Homes Destroyed, Damaged
- May 13, 2008: 'Trophy' Arsonist Hunted By Wildfire Task Force; 100 Leads Checked
- May 13, 2008: 162 Homes Damaged Or Destroyed In Brush Fires; $10M In Damages
- May 13, 2008: Fire Inspector Stunned Over Damage; 100 Homes Affected
- May 13, 2008: 108 Fires Burning 17,000 Acres In Fla.
- May 13, 2008: Wildfires Burn 7,000 Acres, 100 Homes Damaged, Destroyed
- May 13, 2008: Good Samaritans With Shovels, Buckets Save Homes From Brush Fires
- May 13, 2008: Wildfire Arsonist Likely Single Man With Low Self-Esteem
- May 12, 2008: 51 Homes Damaged Or Destroyed By Brush Fires; Police Seek Arsonist
- May 12, 2008: 9 Wildfires Ignited By Arsonist; Home-Destroying Blaze Suspicious
- May 11, 2008: Hundreds Of Families Evacuated Over Wildfires; Major Roads Closed
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