Link to Original Story (Includes pictures and video.)

Two Cairo firefighters accused of arson

Posted: Jun 30, 2011 1:32 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 30, 2011 4:54 PM CDT

By Christy Hendricks

CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - Two Cairo auxiliary firefighters face arson charges in Alexander County.

Richard Scott Pitcher, 18, of Cairo and David Patrick, 22, of Arlington, Kentucky were each charged with two counts of arson.

Both were members of the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department, according to Illinois State Police.

One fire was January 22 at a storage facility in Cairo adjacent to 33rd Street and the Mississippi River levee.

The other fire was April 16 off of Illinois 37.

James McWilliams, the training officer for the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department, says both suspects started work for the fire department around the same time at the beginning of the year.

Pitcher and Patrick were taken to the Tri-County Detention Center.

Pitcher was released on $100,000 bond.

The Cairo Police Department, Cairo Fire Department, Alexander County Sheriff's Department, and the Illinois State Fire Marshall assisted in the investigation.

The investigation continues.

From the Southeast Missourian...

Link to Original Story

Two former firefighters arrested in connection with Cairo arsons

Friday, July 1, 2011

Southeast Missourian

ULLIN, Ill. -- Illinois State Police arrested two men Thursday linked to arsons in Cairo, Ill.

Richard Scott Pitcher, 18, of Cairo, and David Patrick, 22, of Arlington, Ky., have both been charged with two counts of arson.

Pitcher and Patrick were members of the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department, which is not the same entity as the city's fire department. The two men are being held in the Tri-County Detention Center at Ullin.

"We do work with them. We've called them in to assist us, yes," said Cairo Fire Department chief John Meyer. "But they're not part of the city at all. They're private."

Meyer wouldn't discuss the case any further Thursday but said he hopes justice will be served.

"It's been a long, hard investigation," he said.

Bob Simpson, chief of the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department, said Thursday he had no comment.

According to the Alexander County circuit clerk's office, court documents allege the men are responsible for fires on 33rd Street in Cairo and others near the Mississippi River levee in January.

Assisting with the investigation were the Cairo Police Department, Cairo Fire Department, Alexander County Sheriff's Department and the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

In the last month, the Illinois State Police was asked to assist Cairo authorities in solving the more than 40 arson cases that have remained open since 2007.

From September 2007 through March 2011, Cairo fire officials, with the arson division of the state's fire marshal office, have investigated 59 fires; 48 have been determined to be arson.

Authorities have issued an arrest warrant on two counts of arson for Shane Harma, a man they say is responsible for a handful of fires on Pine and 22nd streets in 2008. However, the warrant is still outstanding because Harma is serving time in Montana for similar crimes.

From the WPSD TV Channel 6 Website...

Link to Original Story

Firefighters charged with arson

Reporter - Jason Hibbs
Photojournalist - Mason Watkins

Story Created: Jun 30, 2011 at 9:30 PM CDT
(Story Updated: Jun 30, 2011 at 10:15 PM CDT )

CAIRO, Ill. — They can be life savers. They are the heroes we count on to extinguish the flames that threaten our property and our families. That's why people in Cairo, Illinois, were shocked to learn two of their firefighters are accused of starting fires.

Both men, Richard Scott Pitcher, of Cairo, and David Patrick, of Arlington, Kentucky, served with the Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department.

Police arrested them June 30 and charged them with two counts of arson.

Arson is certainly nothing new to people in Cairo.

Since September of 2007, there have been more than 50 arsons, all unsolved until Thursday.

A lot of people are glad arrests have been made but shocked the suspects worked for the fire department.

The view from Marcus Hines' front porch is depressing.

He and Daniel Busby have watched four homes burn on their block alone. Until now, no one has ever been charged with starting even one fire, leaving neighbors with a mess and frustration.

"It's ruining it, tearing up everything. It's getting closer and closer to our house every time," Hines said.

That's why he's happy to hear about Thursday's arrests.

Cairo's Auxiliary Fire Department Chief Bob Simpson said the two suspects were actually probationary firefighters who were only on the force long enough to damage its reputation.

"If you had somebody running around sabotaging your organization, you'd be upset, too," Simpson said.

In fact, he said he was about to let the two go, as their six-month probationary period was ending.

We went to Scott Pitcher's home to see if he would comment on the charges but no one answered. However, a neighbor told us he is shocked.

"Scott's a very good kid. He's a good neighbor. His family's very good. I doubt very seriously he's done these things," neighbor James Wilson said.

Busby doesn't know who is behind any of the fires. He just wants the arson to stop.

"This is my hometown and I love it. It's not that much to talk about but it's where I'm from and it's my heart. I love this town. I just wish it'd stop," Busby said.

Illinois State Police are the ones handling this investigation. They wouldn't go into details about the case.

They are not saying if the two suspects are connected with the more than 50 other arsons in Cairo.

It's important to note this is the auxiliary fire department, separate from the Cairo Fire Department. These people are all volunteers who assist the other fire department. The chief said this is a first for them and they'll continue to operate. They have 14 people on the force.