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Molotov cocktail destroys county jailer's cars
A Molotov cocktail destroyed two cars at the home of Santa Barbara County correctional officer early Sunday morning on the 400 block of Milky Way in Vandenberg Village, fire officials said.
Molotov cocktail destroys county jailer's cars
By Neil Nisperos - Staff Writer
Lompoc Record
6/13/05
A Molotov cocktail destroyed two cars at the home of Santa Barbara County correctional officer early Sunday morning on the 400 block of Milky Way in Vandenberg Village, fire officials said.
Officer Robert Thompson was on vacation in Monterey, Calif., with his wife and two young children at the time of the arson and no one was home during the fire, he said.
"We were definitely targeted," said Thompson, a correctional officer for the Santa Barbara County Jail,
Thompson said law enforcement officials are looking into several suspects although no one has been arrested at this time. Authorities are taking security precautions at his home, Thompson said.
Thompson, who was contacted by a neighbor and returned immediately, said he was shocked by the news.
"We've been through all the emotional phases of sad and disgust, but we're grateful that the house and the family is safe," he said.
Authorities provided no information about who would have started the fire but said it was unusual to see a fire started in this manner in a residential area.
"I've never seen the use of a Molotov cocktail (in a residential arson) before," Fire Capt. Ryan Hill said.
Thompson's green 1999 Volkswagen Beetle and white 2003 Honda Civic were torched at about 3 a.m. Sunday morning. The insides of the vehicles appeared gutted by fire with melted tires and scorched chassises. County fire officials responded to a call from neighbors shortly after the fire began and prevented the fire from spreading into the two-story home near the driveway.
The garage was damaged and needed to be replaced and the front of the home suffered some smoke damage, Thompson said.
Capt. Hill said at the scene there was a "good possibility" the fire might have spread to the home with the cars being as close as they were to the structure.
Thompson cut his vacation short to return to Lompoc Sunday morning after his Milky Way neighbor Nancy Meatta called him about the fire at 3:30 a.m.
Thompson said he had no idea why he would be targeted by an arsonist. He said he has received no recent threatening calls or messages.
"I have nothing work related that comes to mind," he said.
"I am very grateful that the Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded so quickly because they were able to save the house," he said.
http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2005/06/13/news/news04.txt
By Neil Nisperos - Staff Writer
Lompoc Record
6/13/05
A Molotov cocktail destroyed two cars at the home of Santa Barbara County correctional officer early Sunday morning on the 400 block of Milky Way in Vandenberg Village, fire officials said.
Officer Robert Thompson was on vacation in Monterey, Calif., with his wife and two young children at the time of the arson and no one was home during the fire, he said.
"We were definitely targeted," said Thompson, a correctional officer for the Santa Barbara County Jail,
Thompson said law enforcement officials are looking into several suspects although no one has been arrested at this time. Authorities are taking security precautions at his home, Thompson said.
Thompson, who was contacted by a neighbor and returned immediately, said he was shocked by the news.
"We've been through all the emotional phases of sad and disgust, but we're grateful that the house and the family is safe," he said.
Authorities provided no information about who would have started the fire but said it was unusual to see a fire started in this manner in a residential area.
"I've never seen the use of a Molotov cocktail (in a residential arson) before," Fire Capt. Ryan Hill said.
Thompson's green 1999 Volkswagen Beetle and white 2003 Honda Civic were torched at about 3 a.m. Sunday morning. The insides of the vehicles appeared gutted by fire with melted tires and scorched chassises. County fire officials responded to a call from neighbors shortly after the fire began and prevented the fire from spreading into the two-story home near the driveway.
The garage was damaged and needed to be replaced and the front of the home suffered some smoke damage, Thompson said.
Capt. Hill said at the scene there was a "good possibility" the fire might have spread to the home with the cars being as close as they were to the structure.
Thompson cut his vacation short to return to Lompoc Sunday morning after his Milky Way neighbor Nancy Meatta called him about the fire at 3:30 a.m.
Thompson said he had no idea why he would be targeted by an arsonist. He said he has received no recent threatening calls or messages.
"I have nothing work related that comes to mind," he said.
"I am very grateful that the Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded so quickly because they were able to save the house," he said.
http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2005/06/13/news/news04.txt
Add Your Comments
§right.
This correctional officer may have very well deserved this. First, his job isn't axactly the most passive one. When your beating prisioners all day, how do you not expect some of them to feel animosity towards you? Second, and most importantly, he states, and I quote, "I haven't received any RECENT threats or phone calls". How many have you received in the past? And, if you have, don't play ignorant to what happened to your car.
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