TheeBadOne
May 28, 2003, 10:23 AM
May 16, 2003
Five volunteer firefighters in Brookville, Pennsylvania are charged with intentionally setting fires, and three of the men were charged with kidnapping and threatening a witness.
The fire department, which has about 40 volunteers, is temporarily closed, and the Brookville's fire calls are being handled by nearby departments.
The fires at four vacant buildings since October did not injure anyone. Authorities said they were searching for a motive.
Police Chief Ken Dworek said numerous witnesses, including other firefighters, began coming forward after the third fire in December.
According to criminal complaints, three of the accused men - including the fire chief - took one of the witnesses, a fellow firefighter, to a remote camp May 1.
The witness was "terrorized" into admitting he'd given information to police implicating the men, investigators said in the complaint.
The five men arrested Wednesday include: Fire Chief Jeffrey Scott Corbin, 36; Ryan Joseph Rishell, 24; Wade Joseph Northey; Dustin Ryan Buzard, 20; and Chad Eric Long, 20.
They were charged with arson, burglary, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Buzard, Northey and Rishell are also charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint and terroristic threats.
Five volunteer firefighters in Brookville, Pennsylvania are charged with intentionally setting fires, and three of the men were charged with kidnapping and threatening a witness.
The fire department, which has about 40 volunteers, is temporarily closed, and the Brookville's fire calls are being handled by nearby departments.
The fires at four vacant buildings since October did not injure anyone. Authorities said they were searching for a motive.
Police Chief Ken Dworek said numerous witnesses, including other firefighters, began coming forward after the third fire in December.
According to criminal complaints, three of the accused men - including the fire chief - took one of the witnesses, a fellow firefighter, to a remote camp May 1.
The witness was "terrorized" into admitting he'd given information to police implicating the men, investigators said in the complaint.
The five men arrested Wednesday include: Fire Chief Jeffrey Scott Corbin, 36; Ryan Joseph Rishell, 24; Wade Joseph Northey; Dustin Ryan Buzard, 20; and Chad Eric Long, 20.
They were charged with arson, burglary, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Buzard, Northey and Rishell are also charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint and terroristic threats.