GP task force nabs 11 juveniles in 34 fires
From our weekly issue dated October 08, 2008
A review of the investigation of numerous arson cases and arrests that have occurred during September in the city of Grants Pass was presented Thursday, Oct. 2 by Deputy Chief Laura
Zeliff of the city Dept. of Public Safety.
“A review of all fires within the community during a period of approximately 18 months (March 2007 through August 2008) revealed a significant number of fires, approximately 50, that had occurred,” she said. “The fires ranged from vehicle fires, trash can fires, dumpster fires, outdoor furniture that had been set on fire, grass fires, structure fires and park land and parks equipment.
“During the latter part of August,” said Zeliff, “the number and frequency of fires began to increase. As a result, the Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety Patrol, Detectives and Prevention, the Josephine County Juvenile Dept., Josephine County Parole and Probation, and city of Grants Pass Parks Dept. formed a task force to share information and to work together to investigate these fires.
“Prior to establishing the task force, we had spent considerable hours and effort to canvas neighborhoods, collect evidence, and to question many people that may have been involved or have knowledge about the fires.
“Citizens also came forward and offered reward money for the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for setting the Morrison Centennial Park fire. The reward rose to $2,000.”
Zeliff continued, “As a result of the forming of the task force, the county Juvenile Dept. shared information that was instrumental in assisting in identifying a possible suspect. Development of that information led to the execution of a search warrant at Justin Lee Acuffs’ Bridge Street residence.
“Information obtained led detectives to Roseburg, where detectives arrested Justin Lee Acuff and Tristan Canepa. Roseburg Police Dept. assisted this agency in locating the suspects.”
Acuff was arrested on charges of first-degree arson, manufacture and possession of a destructive device; and Canepa was arrested for manufacture and possession of a destructive device.
“As a result of these arrests, detectives executed a search warrant at 101 Smokey Lane, the residence of Jonathon Davis,” said Zeliff. “He was subsequently arrested on charges of first-degree conspiracy to commit arson, and manufacture and possession of a destructive device.”
The investigation continued with a total of 10 arrests and 33 fires being solved during a period of approximately one month. Those arrests involve the following:
Justin Lee Acuff, Tristan Loren Canepa, Christian Joshua Pederson-Ilagan, Anthony R. Viscetto, Sean Kenneth Kemper, and Benjamin Jesse Havens, all 15; Jonathon Robert Davis, 18; Eric James Cox and Alexander D. Pederson-Ilagan, both 14; and Johnny Walter Amaral, 13.
Acuff, Amaral, and Davis were the only subjects still in custody as of Oct. 1.
“One fire that remained outstanding late into September was the Morrison Centennial Park fire that occurred on July 31, 2008,” said Zeliff. “This fire created a significant and costly amount of damage to the playground equipment, estimated at approximately $40,000.
“On Sept. 30, detectives were able to solve this case with the arrest of Jonathon Davis, Justin Acuff, and Johnny Amaral. Acuff and Amaral were already lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Detention Center on other arson-related crimes.
“Davis,” said the deputy chief, “had previously been arrested and charged on other arson-related crimes and had been released from county jail. Detectives went to his residence, arrested him and lodged him in county jail.
“To our knowledge, no one was injured when setting the fires, which were deliberate. Numerous accelerants and types of manufactured/homemade devices were used, and many of the accelerants were common household items, easily obtained chemicals, or accessible fuels.
“Many of these fires occurred during night time hours – after curfew (11 p.m. in the city of Grants Pass).
“Damage, though in some cases limited, still had potential to cause significant damage or harm to other persons or property. The reward money was not used for any information obtained that led to the arrests.
“In addition to the damage initially caused by the fires, estimated at almost $80,000 in the solved fires,” Zeliff noted, “there was a significant financial impact for the Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety. It is difficult to put an exact time and dollar amount on the cost that this agency bore as a result of this investigation.
“However, we know that in excess of 300 hours of investigative and support time was exhausted while interviewing more than 100 individuals, responding to the many fires sites, collecting evidence, canvassing neighborhoods, and conducting follow-up investigations.
“This investigation does continue. Several other fires are still under investigation, and the potential for additional arrests still exists,”
Zeliff stated.
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