Phoenix fire investigators make arrests in two arson cases

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Fire Investigations Unit recently arrested two suspected arsonists accused of starting fires with Molotov cocktails, including one linked to a two-year-old case by forensic evidence.

The first incident occurred June 20, 2016. Phoenix Fire responded to a home near 19th and Southern avenues after the roof of an elderly woman’s home caught fire.

Once the fire was extinguished, investigators recovered remnants of a Molotov cocktail. That evidence was then sent into the Phoenix Police Department’s crime lab.

Nearly two years later, latent prints and DNA led investigators to forensically link Fred Wilson West to the fire. Research showed West used to reside at the house and is the father of a baby born to one of the resident’s relatives.

“The Fire Investigations Unit is working more and more in tandem with the police department trying to solve some of these [arson] cases,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Tom Britt said.

The second incident occurring this month. Phoenix Fire was called to an apartment complex near 27th Avenue and Camelback Road after reports of a man throwing Molotov cocktails at an occupied apartment building, causing the roof to catch fire.

A resident quickly climbed up on the roof and put the fire out prior to it spreading.

Witnesses described a known homeless man in the area who goes by “Drew” as being the person they saw commit this arson.

The combined efforts of police and fire departments identified the suspect as Andrew Corey Johnson. He was found a little over a week later and placed under arrest for the arson.

“Cases like these demonstrate the importance of the Fire Investigations Unit,” Britt said.

“The citizens of Phoenix actually get more bang for their buck when we pull our resources together. It results in taking more of these perpetrators off our streets.”

The Phoenix Fire Department believes it is in a unique position to work with the police department, allowing them to do detective work during their investigations.

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