Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, November 3, 2016
(LEAVENWORTH) - Indiana Conservation Officers, along with the State Fire Marshal arrested a Leavenworth man Wednesday evening in conjunction with 15 arsons in the Leavenworth area over the past week.
Police arrested 27-year-old Brian Stonecipher on multiple charges including Level 4 Felony Arson, and criminal mischief.
Indiana Conservation Officer Dennis Talley received information from concerned citizens, and along with State Fire Marshal Matt Wells, determined Stonecipher was a prime suspect.
Multiple agencies have scrambled to respond to fires this week, including 2 within an hour, shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Officer Talley, Fire Marshal Wells, and Indiana State Police Trooper Heath Carkuff interviewed and arrested Stonecipher Wednesday night, after linking him to 15 arsons, including one in March on Hoosier National Forest property, and 2 attempted fires at a vacant church on Beechwood Road near Leavenworth this week.
Stonecipher, a Leavenworth Volunteer Firefighter, and also a FedEx truck driver, admitted to starting several fires while utilizing his FedEx truck, and then responding to assist in extinguishing the fires as a firefighter.
The incident remains under investigation, and additional charges are possible.
Anyone with information concerning this investigation is encouraged to contact Indiana Conservation Officers' Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.