Arson tally now 10 after new Greenwood fires

Geeky Swedes Ballard

An arsonist lit two more fires in Greenwood overnight, both at small businesses. A third fire was set this morning around 8 a.m. at the Greenwood Quickstop, but was quickly put out.

A fire was called out 4 a.m. at the “Olive You” restaurant on Greenwood Ave. An arson patrol discovered the blaze, and firefighters quickly extinguished it.

Around 11 p.m. last night, an arsonist lit two small fires behind a photo lab at 77th and Greenwood. Again, firefighters were quick to put them out. PhinneyWood has complete coverage of the latest fires, plus an updated map of the 10 unsolved arson cases in the neighborhood. (Thanks Silver for your help!)

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

49 thoughts to “Arson tally now 10 after new Greenwood fires”

  4. A fourth fire today at 81st and Greenwood? That is 10. Its obvious that we need more police presence in this area. Too many people can't seem to stop committing crimes around here. How about another police station in the old Ballard library?

  7. what would a police unit at the old Ballard library (on 24th Ave NW) do to stop the Greenwood arsonist? I haven't checked the map, but is his/her pyro activity tracking westbound?

  8. Clearly we need to establish some sort of citizen's patrol on Sunday nights for this creep. Does anyone know if there is a way for neighbors to get involved or help with the firefighter's arson patrol?

    As neighbors we need to bond together – obviously this is a local person. Keep a sharp eye out for suspicious activity.

  10. Don't you watch 'Criminal Minds', Fauxnothing? These sort of unsubs are almost always local to their activity. They know the neighborhood well and usually get around on foot. They're probably also lingering about as first-responders come to put out the fire.

  13. We do NOT want or need cameras everywhere. “Those who want to sacrifice a little freedom for security deserve neither”. Simple. Because of one's criminal intent/terror spree we do NOT need cameras everywhere. Growing up in this area all my life, this is the first type of this crap I know of. There are patrols. They smelled smoke. They got there. There'll be more patrols. They WILL catch this scum. Easy on the knee-jerks/baby out with bathwater sydrome.

  14. I don't get why people would be against a camera security system. In London and Manchester it has been used so successfully to follow car thieves, and bank robbers all the way back to their homes!

    I don't see how it effects my freedom at all.

  16. I don't know where to stand on this issue. I usually point to European cities for sensible public policy, and they seem okay with cameras. Amsterdam, for instance, that pinnacle of progressivism, is basically 100% covered by surveillance cameras. If you are outside in liberal progressive Amsterdam, you are on camera.

    On the other hand cameras everywhere feels sort of Orwellian, eventhough I can't imagine how I would personally feel any negative effects.

    Someone please tell me what I should think.

  17. (Cross-posting here since MyBallard has larger audience. Posted to comments on Phinneywood.com also)

    I cut this from the link that was posted in the comments which has a lot of information about Arsonists of all types (starting with children playing with matches, which is obviously not what we’re dealing with here.) This profile seemed to best fit what’s going on in Greenwood:

    Serial Arson:

    Arsonists who set fires repeatedly are referred to as serial fire setters.

    The NCAVC classifies compulsive fire setting as mass, spree or serial

    The serial arsonist is involved in three or more separate fire setting episodes with a characteristic emotional cooling off period between fires. This period may last days weeks or even years.

    Serial arson is the most serious type of arson do to apparent random selection of victims and unpredictable gaps between incidents. Furthermore a serial arson is not a separate or distinct motive for fire setting it is a pattern of fire setting frequently encountered in revenge, excitement or extremist motivated arson

    Serial arsonists often create a climate of fear in entire communities community leaders tend to compound the problem by pressuring law enforcement agencies to identify and quickly apprehend the fire setter often the arsonist evades apprehension for months while investigators become increasing frustrated by the lack of experience in handling these baffling cases

    This type of arson usually involves a disorganized crime scene physical evidence is often present. The offender frequently uses available materials found at the scene and carries the source of ignition with them usually a long offender is involved.

    The typical offender in this category is usually male. His age is generally younger than the single event arsonist. He tends to be a loner, but a secondary party may have knowledge of his activities. He will tend to be minimally educated and an underachiever. He generally has poor interpersonal relationships and is socially inadequate. Often he is unemployed and if he has an employment history it is erratic and involves little or no skill.

    Serial arsonists often have a history of substance abuse and a history of police contact/arrests for minor nuisance offenses. The offender walks to the scene of the fire and generally lives within one mile of the crime scene He is very likely familiar with the crime scene and could justify his presence in the area.

    It is important to analyze the cluster centers of fire activity. The tighter the cluster the closer to the area of significance to the offender.

    A subtype of the serial arsonist is the extremist serial arsonist. Research suggests that this offender is usually well educated and above average in intelligence. He is highly mobile and focuses his attacks on specific targets. He uses sophisticated incendiary devices. The crime scenes is organized and there is little or no physical evidence.

    Spree Arson
    Sets fire at three or more separate locations with no emotional cooling off period between them.

    Mass Arson
    Involves one offender who sets three or more fires at the same location during a limited time period

  18. EMC — I also have been struck by the similarities to those fires, but I am wondering how you know he's back in town? Have you called the police to talk about it?

  19. that guy had a beef with development, hence the condo and new construction targets. the new guy seems to hate theater, cats, and greek food.

  20. ” the new guy seems to hate theater, cats, and greek food”

    Case solved… it's my uncle. In fact, if the trend continues the next place he hits should either be Yankee Stadium or Glenn Beck's studio.

  22. I know for a fact he has been back in town and in the Greenwood area recently, and for a couple years since his release. The similarities of the fires and the areas of the fires seems striking. Also, he has “psychological” issues that explain this behavior. I thought he would be key suspect #1 from the start for Seattle police, seems too obvious he would at least get a look/questioning–maybe they already have, but I dunno. May end up having to call them myself and point them in that direction myself: LOOK HERE.

  23. Medina is so pedestrian friendly and a place that's just so easy to wander around unnoticed with or without cameras. Give me a break.

  24. I like Boardbrown's comment. And if a neighbor patrol caught this a-hole death would be the least of his/her problems. Not that I blame the people of Greenwood and Phinney for the vigilante-esque anger. In fact, as my mom and 13 yo nephew live in Greenwood, I'd like to be there to see it.

  26. I agree that we need more police around here, but a police station would just mean more police behind a desk and not out actually catching criminals.

  27. Read up on arsonist profiles and look at the arson map and I'll bet you when this guy is caught that he lives within 10 blocks of 85th and Greenwood.

  29. The reason for the aversion to the total surveillance society is that it will eventually be abused. Just like all the PATRIOT act stuff that was only supposed to be used against terrorists wound up being used to spy on americans who weren't “loyal Bushies”.
    In an instance such as the one we have now with an obviously deranged/borderline retarded firebug there is a clear threat to public safety that warrants additional measures, but these should be temporary like increased patrols rather than permanent 24/7 monitoring.

  32. dude/dudette — I'm torn between telling you that my post was (obvious) satire and letting you rage further against it, so I'll say nothing.

  35. 20% is a silly number Tim, but let's weigh the other costs. Everyone I know has either had their car or home burglarized in the last five years. On the low end a car window costs a couple hundred to replace and a home burglary can take a few thousand in minutes. The fires around Greenwood have damage now in the millions and there is a guy left with third degree burns. That's not cheap. Let's also look at the other crimes like the guy beaten and left in a coma for weeks this past summer, that's not cheap either even if you ignore the human aspect.
    All this expense is the result of policing on the cheap. The city has far outgrown the size of the police force over the past few decades and we're paying the price, not in taxes, but in the personal costs of the damage and the impacts on local business. I'd rather pay a little more for police and a little less for insurance and repair.

  38. My conspiracy theorist friend thinks BIG BUSINESS is paying the arsonist to burn out the smaller business so that part of Greenwood can be redeveloped.

  39. I missed your tone, based on overwhelming evidence from the general population of commentary here and now you are missing mine, dude.

  44. really crappy….

    anyone know if the arsonist from 5 years ago (or so) was ever caught? the focus then seemed to be on developments in the works.

    i applaud those taking part in neighborhood watch activities. this ass must be caught before someone is killed.

  46. Was that the one where the guy, Mark Morse, was arrested for arson in Canada? I think he got psych evaluation lockup in Canada, but don't know what happened after that. You'd think that the police would have talked to him by now…

  48. Often we forget the little guy, the SMB, in our discussions of the comings and goings of the Internet marketing industry. Sure there are times like this when a report surfaces talking about their issues and concerns but, for the most part, we like to talk about big brands and how they do the Internet marketing thing well or not so well.
    http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com

  49. The Center for Media Research has released a study by Vertical Response that shows just where many of these ‘Main Street’ players are going with their online dollars. The big winners: e-mail and social media. With only 3.8% of small business folks NOT planning on using e-mail marketing and with social media carrying the perception of being free (which they so rudely discover it is far from free) this should make some in the banner and search crowd a little wary.
    http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com

Leave a Reply