Delaware County Arson Spree Investigation

 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SHERIFF’S REWARD FUND FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE PERPETRATOR(S) OF SEVERAL FIRES AND ACTS OF VANDALISM COMMITTED IN DELAWARE COUNTY DURING APRIL - PRESENT IN 2009

 

            A series of eight suspicious building fires ( many of which the causes were incendiary) and 4 incidents of vandalism in isolated areas throughout Delaware County during the last few months  has resulted in the assignment of extra patrols to try to locate the person or persons  responsible for causing this widespread havoc and destruction.  Our task is made more difficult by the size of the area which must be covered and the fact that the arsonist(s) has targeted buildings in  isolated areas and second homes that stand vacant during much of the year.  That all changed last week when a church in Sidney Center burnt to the ground in a residential area, putting nearby occupied homes at risk.  Now efforts to locate the arsonist(s) has become our top priority.

 

            A Task Force, led by members of the  Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and Delaware County Department of Emergency Services, and supported by the New York State Police and State Office of Fire Prevention and Control has been established to focus on this investigation.  They are actively following up leads on this case.  But they need your help.

 

            Accordingly, Sheriff Mills has established a Reward fund which will pay individuals for  providing pertinent information which lead(s) to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting the suspicious fires and acts of vandalism from April through October, 2009 in Delaware County.  Reward funds are available now.  The Sheriff’s Office has committed the first $3,000.00 and is requesting contributions from the private sector, i.e., businesses, associations, individuals, etc.  Guidelines concerning the distribution of reward funds will be forthcoming.  Although input regarding the relevance of tips will be submitted to him by members of the Task Force, the final determination of individual reward amounts will be made by the Delaware County Sheriff.

 

            The person(s) responsible for these acts poses a significant threat to our collective safety and security.  We are soliciting your assistance and encouraging your donation to the Reward Fund.  Please make your donations payable to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and mail them to 280 Phoebe Lane, Suite One,  Delhi, NY 13753.

                                                                             

            Please consult the Sheriff’s web page, located at http://www.co.delaware.ny.us/departments/shrf/shrf.htm for further details.  It will updated daily to include details concerning this case as well as listing a posting of donations identifying the donors, unless they wish to remain anonymous.  If the reward money allocated for this particular investigation is unspent, it will be returned to the donors, unless specified otherwise.

 

            Please telephone our Office at 746-2336 or 1-888-914-9111 with any leads you would like to submit on this case.  You may e-mail us at delshf@co.delaware.ny.us.