Victim Desperate For Arrest In Apartment Arson Cases
DENVER (CBS4) - Officials in Arapahoe County are sending out a new plea for help in hopes of capturing the person or people responsible for three different arsons at the same apartment complex.
The crimes were committed over a four month span last year at the Woodhaven Apartments on 7500 East Harvard Avenue. After the last fire, which displaced many residents for some time, burglars broke into the building and stole thousands of dollars in personal belongings.
CBS4 talked to one person this week who was treated by paramedics when the third fire happened on Oct. 22. Phil Salee said his family has had to move out of town in their effort to find a place to live and they've had to give away their pets due to the rules at their new residence.
"What would you say to the person who started this fire?" CBS4 reporter Stan Bush asked Salee.
"I honestly don't know," Salee said. "I'm kind of afraid of what I would say or do to him."
Before being treated Salee was a hero on the night of the last fire. He found a ladder and rescued some of his neighbors who were trapped on a balcony.
He says the thieves who hit the apartment building after the fire took thousands of dollars worth of his belongings.
"We were just getting a leg up in life and getting where we wanted to be and everything got swept up from underneath us. It was very frustrating," he said.
Last December Woodhaven Apartments residents were told there were concerns in the wake of the fire about asbestos contamination.
"We want answers. We want to know what happened, who did it and why," he said.
The first two arson fires happened on June 12 and June 26.
Additional Resources
The following information was released on Thursday by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office:
The (Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office) are asking for any information from the public in solving these crimes. ... CALLMETRO DENVER CRIME STOPPERS 720-913-STOP (7867)
Text to: 274637 (CRIMES) then title DMCS & enter your message. Crime Stoppers collects information on unsolved crimes or individuals wanted by the police.
Callers can remain anonymous. The tip line is answered 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.
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