S.O. investigates Pollard arson

Published 7:22 pm Monday, July 5, 2004

By Staff
Staff Report
Investigators of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate an arson that took place in the Pollard community last week.
Shortly after midnight on June 23, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a woman who stated that her residence in Pollard on LaConte Street was on fire.
The call was transferred to the Flomaton Police Department who dispatched the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department. The woman was able to get her eight-year-old son and her nine-year-old nephew safely out of the trailer.
Once out of the trailer, the woman used a garden hose and put the fire out.
The woman then discovered that the fire had been intentionally set. While she was putting out the flames, she discovered that there were two broken glass bottles on the ground next to the trailer.
She notified the Sheriff's Department that the fire was out, but several members of the Friendship Fire Department continued to respond and assist the victim.
Deputy Jason Gleaton started the investigation and recovered several items of evidence including the broken bottles on the outside of the trailer and one unbroken bottle inside the trailer. One of the bottles that was thrown broke a window of an unoccupied bedroom and landed on the floor.
The bottle had fuel inside of it and a cloth stuffed inside the bottle opening.
Investigators from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the Alabama Fire Marshall's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began working the case. The items of evidence were taken to the ATF Forensics lab in Atlanta, Ga. for forensic evaluation.
Captain Chuck McMullen of the Sheriff's Office stated, "We appreciate the quick response from the State Fire Marshall's Office and the ATF. Their assistance is greatly appreciated. We continue to work on this case, but we really could use some help. If anyone has any information about this case I ask that they contact the Sheriff's Office at 809-0741."