Date: Fri 02-Feb-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-arson-car-Tunnel-Rd

Full Text:

Burned Car Was Apparantly An Arson Target

Town fire and police officials are investigating an apparent arson that took

place after 11 pm Monday in a snowy field off Tunnel Road, near Currituck

Road.

Fire Marshal George Lockwood said Tuesday that Hawleyville firefighters found

an automobile fully engulfed in flames when they responded to the report of a

fire.

Because damage was so extensive to the small station wagon, Mr Lockwood said

he hasn't been able to identify the make or model of the car. Also, some of

the VIN identification plaques which are positioned on many sections of an

auto body by the car's manufacturer had been removed from the vehicle,

indicating that the person or persons who destroyed the car didn't want it to

be identified, Mr Lockwood said.

Mr Lockwood said workers at the garage which towed the car from the scene will

be seeking other VIN idenification plaques on the vehicle to identify it.

There were no injuries in connection with the blaze, he said.

Mr Lockwood said a flammable liquid apparently was spread in the vehicle's

interior to fuel the fire.

Mr Lockwood theorized the car either was a stolen vehicle that the arsonist

wanted to destroy or that the arsonist didn't want to pay junkyard fees to

dispose of the car.

"Whoever did this knew what they were doing," Mr Lockwood said of the nature

of the fire. It will be unclear how much damage was done to the car until its

make, model and year of manufacture can be determined.

Mr Lockwood said police Sergeant Henry Stormer will participate in the arson

investigation. Sgt Stormer is a deputy fire marshal.