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American Morning
Major Break in Case of Serial Arsonist in Washington D.C. Area
Aired September 16, 2003 - 08:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators say it's a "major break" in the case of a serial arsonist in the Washington, D.C. area. The task force investigating 28 suspicious fires in the D.C. area releasing a sketch of a possible suspect. Six of the fires that began back in March have been positively linked. Arson investigators say the evidence from an incident this past weekend in northeastern Washington, D.C. helped them develop that sketch.
Ron Blackwell, fire chief of Prince Georges County in Maryland, now joins us live to talk more about this case.
Chief, thanks for your time today.
Good morning to you.
RONALD BLACKWELL, FIRE CHIEF, PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, MARYLAND: Good to be with you, Bill.
HEMMER: What can you tell us about the sketch and the individual right now you want to question?
BLACKWELL: Well, we released a statement yesterday directed to the arsonist. We feel we've gathered some information over time that puts us in a position now where we have a better understanding of this person and that this person, while he does have the power here, he does control his own destiny and a good first step toward him making things right would be to contact us.
HEMMER: Chief, you said some very interesting things yesterday, and publicly. You talked about understanding the feelings of stress and anxiety. You talked about the psychological sketch out there. You described the feelings, understanding from your perspective when certain people feel like things are out of their control.
What were you trying to communicate with those comments yesterday?
BLACKWELL: Well, primarily that we feel like we understand this person and what he may be feeling. And while it has certainly been tough and, in some ways, stressful for those involved in the investigation, we think that if he'll contact us, we understand his feelings and can help.
HEMMER: We also understand, according to the "Washington Post," anyway, a member of the ATF sat down with you recently, possibly as early as yesterday, trying to give you a better idea about how they track and trace and how arsonists perform and work. What did you learn from these meetings?
BLACKWELL: Well, we've had a number of meetings over the course of the past several weeks and throughout the investigation, not only with people from the ATF but through our state police and local police, as well. And we've put together a lot of things based on information and education we've received. There are people involved in the investigation with extensive background. And we're now in a position where we feel like we truly understand what this person may be feeling and are hopeful that he'll contact us.
HEMMER: Chief, I apologize, only a few short seconds left. Over the weekend, a man was spotted on a porch. Was there any evidence gathered on that porch that has helped you in a direction at this point?
BLACKWELL: Well, we were able to gather some things that we certainly believe will be helpful to us, but that's going to require some careful analysis and we'll be working on that throughout the rest of the week.
HEMMER: DNA or not?
BLACKWELL: Well, DNA, I don't know. There was some physical evidence was obtained and we're going to take a look at it.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chief.
Good luck to you.
BLACKWELL: All right, thank you.
HEMMER: Ronald Blackwell from D.C. with us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired September 16, 2003 - 08:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Investigators say it's a "major break" in the case of a serial arsonist in the Washington, D.C. area. The task force investigating 28 suspicious fires in the D.C. area releasing a sketch of a possible suspect. Six of the fires that began back in March have been positively linked. Arson investigators say the evidence from an incident this past weekend in northeastern Washington, D.C. helped them develop that sketch.
Ron Blackwell, fire chief of Prince Georges County in Maryland, now joins us live to talk more about this case.
Chief, thanks for your time today.
Good morning to you.
RONALD BLACKWELL, FIRE CHIEF, PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, MARYLAND: Good to be with you, Bill.
HEMMER: What can you tell us about the sketch and the individual right now you want to question?
BLACKWELL: Well, we released a statement yesterday directed to the arsonist. We feel we've gathered some information over time that puts us in a position now where we have a better understanding of this person and that this person, while he does have the power here, he does control his own destiny and a good first step toward him making things right would be to contact us.
HEMMER: Chief, you said some very interesting things yesterday, and publicly. You talked about understanding the feelings of stress and anxiety. You talked about the psychological sketch out there. You described the feelings, understanding from your perspective when certain people feel like things are out of their control.
What were you trying to communicate with those comments yesterday?
BLACKWELL: Well, primarily that we feel like we understand this person and what he may be feeling. And while it has certainly been tough and, in some ways, stressful for those involved in the investigation, we think that if he'll contact us, we understand his feelings and can help.
HEMMER: We also understand, according to the "Washington Post," anyway, a member of the ATF sat down with you recently, possibly as early as yesterday, trying to give you a better idea about how they track and trace and how arsonists perform and work. What did you learn from these meetings?
BLACKWELL: Well, we've had a number of meetings over the course of the past several weeks and throughout the investigation, not only with people from the ATF but through our state police and local police, as well. And we've put together a lot of things based on information and education we've received. There are people involved in the investigation with extensive background. And we're now in a position where we feel like we truly understand what this person may be feeling and are hopeful that he'll contact us.
HEMMER: Chief, I apologize, only a few short seconds left. Over the weekend, a man was spotted on a porch. Was there any evidence gathered on that porch that has helped you in a direction at this point?
BLACKWELL: Well, we were able to gather some things that we certainly believe will be helpful to us, but that's going to require some careful analysis and we'll be working on that throughout the rest of the week.
HEMMER: DNA or not?
BLACKWELL: Well, DNA, I don't know. There was some physical evidence was obtained and we're going to take a look at it.
HEMMER: Thank you, Chief.
Good luck to you.
BLACKWELL: All right, thank you.
HEMMER: Ronald Blackwell from D.C. with us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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