Son of the Assistant Fire Chief
BRETT GRAHAM, 19, OF STOREY, IOWA, is behind bars this weekend after being caught at the scene of barn fire near Kelley, Iowa.
Graham was already a suspect of several other arsons that have been committed in Boone and Story Counties over the past year. A task force of state and local fire marshals and investigators has been working on the string of 20 -30 arsons and had narrowed their suspect list down to include Graham who is a volunteer firefighter. The task force concentrated on following his movements and on Thursday night a witness saw him leaving the scene of a barn fire.
KCCI-TV is reporting:
He's been charged with three counts of second-degree arson in connection with fires at the ISU Golf Performance Center, the Uthe Party Barn and another rural barn.
State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds said he also confessed to a Boone County fire that killed 12 horses on Jan. 28. Boone County officials confirmed Friday afternoon that Graham was also charged in connection with the horse barn fire.Graham is the son of Kelley's assistant fire chief, Reynolds said. However, Reynolds said, "The actions of one firefighter shouldn't reflect negatively on their community."
Reynolds said detectives have suspected Graham for some time. He said a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies on the state level, right down to the detective who left Valentine's Day dinner with his wife to question Graham, helped solve this case.
The Kelley Fire Department also cooperated with the task force in closing this case.
WHO-TV Ch. 13 posted this video report:
KCCI-TV has more plus additional video HERE.
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Also on FireGeezer…
- Arson Charges Against Ohio Firefighter – February 2, 2013
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