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Transcript of Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Arson, Bombs and Explosives
Hess 16-1
Introduction• Arson, the malicious, willful burning of a building or
property, is one of the oldest crimes known• Arson is difficult to prove • Police investigators partner with fire investigators to
handle these crimes• Fire marshals, who also have law enforcement powers
for fire-related incidents, investigate these crimes
Hess 16-2
CATEGORIES• Natural• Accidental• Incendiary (arson)• Undetermined origin
Hess 16-3
Classification of Fires
ELEMENTS• Willful, malicious burning of a building or property• Of another or of one’s own to defraud• Causing to be burned, or aiding, counseling or
procuring such burning
Hess 16-4
Elements of the Crime: Arson
AGGRAVATED AND SIMPLE ARSON• Aggravated arson
Intentionally destroying or damaging Fire or explosives or other infernal device Imminent danger to life or great bodily harm
• Simple arson Intentional destruction by fire or explosives Does not create imminent danger to life
Hess 16-5
Classification of Arson
ATTEMPTED ARSON• Intent to set a fire • Some preparation to commit the crime
SETTING NEGLIGENT FIRES• Causing a fire to burn • Causing a fire to get out of control
Hess 16-6
Classification of Arson
THE MODEL ARSON LAW• First degree: Burning of dwellings• Second degree: Burning of buildings other than
dwellings• Third degree: Burning of other property• Fourth degree: Attempting to burn buildings or
property
Hess 16-7
Classification of Arson
JUVENILE FIRESETTING• Children are predominant victims• Fireplay versus firesetting
MOTIVATION• Revenge most common motive• Insurance fraud
Hess 16-8
The Arsonist
EXPERTISE• Fire department
Detect arson Determine point of origin Probable cause
• Police department Investigate arson Prepare the case for prosecution
Hess 16-9
Police and Fire Department Cooperation
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives• News media• Insurance companies• Arson task forces• Importance of the dispatcher
Hess 16-10
Other Sources of Assistance inInvestigating Arson
DIFFICULTIES• Coordinating efforts with fire department and others• Determining whether a crime has been committed• Finding physical evidence• Finding witnesses• Determining whether the victim is a suspect
Hess 16-11
Special Challenges in Investigation
OBSERVATIONS• Presence of victims and witnesses• Vehicles leaving the scene• Flame and smoke conditions• Conditions surrounding the scene• Status of alarms and sprinklers
Hess 16-12
Responding to the Scene
OVERVIEW• Fire department usually receives the initial call• Fire personnel make out the report• Fire department establishes arson• Investigators must verify fire department findings• Understand distinctions for proving crime
Hess 16-13
The Preliminary Investigation
FIRE TRIANGLE• Arson will present an
abnormal amount of Air Fuel Heat
Hess 16-14
The Preliminary Investigation
ARSON INDICATORS• Accelerants• Igniters• Burn indicators• Point of origin• Burning pattern• Appearance of collapsed walls and smoke color
Hess 16-15
The Preliminary Investigation
SUMMARY OF ARSON INDICATORS• Professionals use various igniters
Magnesium rods, timed charge, acids
PHOTOGRAPHING AND VIDEOTAPING AN ARSON FIRE
• In-progress photographs• People at the fire scene
Hess 16-16
The Preliminary Investigation
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE• Very fragile• Identify accelerants (GF-FID)
USING K-9s IN ARSON INVESTIGATIONS• Lab-certified accelerant-detection canine • Accelerants and suspects
Hess 16-17
The Preliminary Investigation
EVIDENCE ON SUSPECT, AT RESIDENCE OR IN VEHICLE• Unique odors• Insurance documents
OBSERVING UNUSUALCIRCUMSTANCES
• Alterations to area• Providing more air, heat or fuel
Hess 16-18
The Preliminary Investigation
INTERVIEWING• Who had opportunity• Who benefits from it• Victim’s financial status• Cooperation level• First-in firefighters
Hess 16-19
The Preliminary Investigation
TYPES• Administrative
Government agent needed to search the premises Determine the fire’s cause and origin
• Criminal• Issued on probable cause • Premises yield evidence of a crime
• Michigan v. Tyler (1978)
Hess 16-20
Search Warrants and Fire Investigations
FINAL TIPS• Obtain consent or a warrant• Turn off utilities• Inspect and ventilate• Bring a partner• Wear proper safety gear• Avoid cross contamination
Hess 16-21
Final Safety and Legal Considerations
DETERMINATIONS• Look for evidence of accelerants • Determine whether the vehicle was insured• Seldom arson if there was no insurance• Intent to defraud
Hess 16-22
Investigating Vehicle Arson
DIFFICULTIES• 90 percent of arsonists go unpunished• Often committed without witnesses• Interagency cooperation required• Circumstantial evidence
Hess 16-23
Prosecuting Arsonists
KEY FACTORS• Abandoned properties• Negative-equity properties• Utilities were shut off• Prior-year fires• Gang locales• Drug hot spots
Hess 16-24
Preventing Arson
CLASSES• Juvenile/experimentation• Recovered military ordnance or commercial explosives• Emotionally disturbed persons• Criminal actions• Terrorist or extremist activity
Hess 16-25
Investigating Bombings and Explosions
OVERVIEW• Nonchalant attitude could
prove fatal• Do not touch the package• Using K-9s in detecting• Stationary technology
Sniffer
• Using robots
Hess 16-26
Responding to a Bomb Threat
OVERVIEW• Special attention to fragments of device• Pay attention to powder at the scene• Determine motive• Determine scene parameters
AWARENESS TRAINING AND TEAM APPROACH• Available training programs
Hess 16-27
Bomb Scene Investigation
Summary• Fires are natural or accidental unless proven otherwise• Special challenges in investigating arson include
coordinating efforts • Fire department is responsible for establishing whether
arson has occurred• Law enforcement investigators must be able to verify
such findings• When investigating vehicle fires, look for evidence of
accelerants
Hess 16-28