Fire-ology firegeezer on 28 May 2007 02:14 pm
Retired Fire Marshall charged with evidence tampering
A RECENTLY-RETIRED FIRE MARSHAL IN S.E. MICHIGAN has been charged with evidence tampering, falsifying documents and planting evidence in several cases. He was the handler of one of five dogs in the state trained to sniff out flammable materials. He may also be facing charges in several more counties where he was called out to investigate fires.
The Macomb Daily reports:
Law enforcement officials said a Chesterfield Township firefighter saw Wallace “spiking” or dropping a chemical accelerant at the scene of a fire. The firefighter informed Detective Sgt. Brad Kersten of what he had witnessed, and an investigation was launched.
Police and fire officials concocted staged fires for Wallace to work on to see if they could catch him in the act, setting up hidden video cameras to tape his actions. State Police in Gladwin set up a similar operation, also with video surveillance.
Rummel/Times Herald photo
Eastpointe Fire Marshal Jeffrey Wallace watches his arson dog, Cops, sniff through the remains of a barn fire in November on McLain Road in Clyde Township.
