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DDB:arson.pr 96-282 Contact: Fire Rescue Media
301-217-6996
FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND POLICE
CHARGE THREE WITH FELONY ARSON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 9, 1996
A two-night arson spree in northern Montgomery County was halted today
when fire investigators and undercover police officers apprehended two adults
and one juvenile. The individuals were each charged with three counts of
second degree arson and one count of malicious burning -- all of which are
felony counts.
Charged are Jeffrey Johnson, 18, of Olney; Kelley Lusby, 19, of
Poolesville; and a 17-year-old juvenile female, also of Poolesville.
The adults are currently in custody at the Montgomery County Detention
Center, and the juvenile is in the custody of her parents.
The string of arson fires began on Wednesday night, August 7, with
separate fires set in area dumpsters and a house under construction in
Laytonsville. On Thursday night, August 8, fires were set in a barn on Brooke
Grove Rd. in Brookeville, a house under construction on Link Rd. in Olney, and
more dumpsters. A total of six dumpsters were ignited in the area over the
two-day period.
Physical evidence found at the scenes of the first fires led fire
investigators to a local convenience store, where cash register receipts and
video evidence identified suspects. Witnesses at several of the fires
reported seeing in the area a black Geo Metro with three occupants.
Surveillance operations led to an arrest in the early morning hours of Friday,
August 9. The car was observed on Georgia Ave. and Prince William Dr., and
the occupants were taken into custody. (MORE)
COUNTY CHARGES THREE WITH ARSON 2-2-2-2
These individuals have also been identified as suspects in a series of
mail thefts from residential mailboxes throughout Montgomery County during the
month. Two of the stolen letters were used to fuel one of the arson fires,
and other mail was found on fire in a wooded area of Potomac.
U.S. Postal Inspectors and Montgomery County Police have recovered
scores of rifled letters, and the addressees will be contacted as soon as
possible. Any postal customers in the Poolesville, Potomac, Gaithersburg and
Olney areas who believe they may be missing mail addressed to their homes
during the past month should call the Postal Inspection Service at 202-636-
2300.
Criminal charges relating to the thefts of the mail and unauthorized use
of the contents are pending.
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