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Officials say Governor's Mansion fire politically motivated
APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer
Issue date: 6/17/08 Section: STATE
AUSTIN (AP) _ Investigators said Monday that they believe the arson at the Texas Governor's Mansion was politically motivated and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who torched the historic landmark.
State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado said last week that investigators did not believe the blaze was politically motivated, but changed course Monday.
"It is likely that feelings of anger may have motivated his crime," Maldonado said. "He may be known to get angry and express strong opinions about the government, Governor Perry himself, the death penalty, the renovation of the mansion or other political issues."
Speaking directly to the suspect at a news conference Monday, Maldonado said: "We do feel you had a message and we would like to hear from you. We're not quite sure what that message is, but please contact us."
Maldonado said officials are not yet ready to release video footage of the alleged arsonist, but said investigators believe they are looking for a white male, between 5-foot-9 and 6-1, who was wearing a ball cap, a dark shirt, work-type gloves, blue jeans or cargo style pants.
The suspect is probably physically fit because he was able to scale an 8-foot chain-link fence to get onto the mansion grounds, he said.
Investigators have said video footage shows a suspect in the early morning hours of June 8, standing in front of the Governor's Mansion, igniting an object and throwing it onto the porch of the historic landmark, creating a fireball and blaze that ravaged the 152-year old structure.
One Department of Public Safety trooper was on guard at the time.
"All I can tell you is that it was customary to have two troopers covering that shift," said Don Dickson, an Austin attorney who represents the Texas State Troopers Association in addition to a trooper who hasn't been identified. "I don't really know the reason there was only one there that night."
Dickson said the trooper he represents notified his supervisors "some time ago" that the infrared alarm system at the mansion was malfunctioning. The system is used to alert guards when someone enters the mansion's perimeter.
State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado said last week that investigators did not believe the blaze was politically motivated, but changed course Monday.
"It is likely that feelings of anger may have motivated his crime," Maldonado said. "He may be known to get angry and express strong opinions about the government, Governor Perry himself, the death penalty, the renovation of the mansion or other political issues."
Speaking directly to the suspect at a news conference Monday, Maldonado said: "We do feel you had a message and we would like to hear from you. We're not quite sure what that message is, but please contact us."
Maldonado said officials are not yet ready to release video footage of the alleged arsonist, but said investigators believe they are looking for a white male, between 5-foot-9 and 6-1, who was wearing a ball cap, a dark shirt, work-type gloves, blue jeans or cargo style pants.
The suspect is probably physically fit because he was able to scale an 8-foot chain-link fence to get onto the mansion grounds, he said.
Investigators have said video footage shows a suspect in the early morning hours of June 8, standing in front of the Governor's Mansion, igniting an object and throwing it onto the porch of the historic landmark, creating a fireball and blaze that ravaged the 152-year old structure.
One Department of Public Safety trooper was on guard at the time.
"All I can tell you is that it was customary to have two troopers covering that shift," said Don Dickson, an Austin attorney who represents the Texas State Troopers Association in addition to a trooper who hasn't been identified. "I don't really know the reason there was only one there that night."
Dickson said the trooper he represents notified his supervisors "some time ago" that the infrared alarm system at the mansion was malfunctioning. The system is used to alert guards when someone enters the mansion's perimeter.
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