Goal#6 Objective E


Objective E:
Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will identify specific investigative issues relating to arson.
Investigative issues relating to arson:

Definition
Elements of the crime
The People Involved
Physical Evidence
Motive
Records

Definition -

arson (UCR) -
The unlawful, willful, or malicious burning, or attempted burning of property with or without the intent to defraud.

Example of arson:

Elements of the crime -

3 elements of arson

The People Involved -

Potential witnesses and/or suspects.

Who discovered the fire?

When photographing a suspected arson scene, insure that the photographer includes some non-intrusive photos of the crowd that gathers to observe the crime scene. Many suspects return to the scene.

Physical Evidence -

Purposes of collecting physical evidence at an arson scene

3 components necessary for fire

The search of a scene suspected to be an arson must be done as soon as the fire is put out.

Gasoline and kerosene are two of the most common accelerants used in arsons. Past experience has shown their residue lingers for a few hours after the fire is put out. Therefore the search must begin immediately

Do you need a search warrant to search an arson scene?
No.

Michigan v. Taylor
The necessity to begin an immediate search to preserve volatile evidence and to prevent the fire from restarting, is sufficient to meet exigency conditions for a warrantless search.

A search of the fire scene normally focuses on finding the fire's point of origin. The point of origin requires a quick and efficient search.

The point of origin can be determined by

Point of Origin (PO) -
The point where the fire started.

Three sources of information to determine PO

burn patterns -

distorted shapes and other effects of intense heat -

observations of the person who first noticed the fire -

The person who first noticed the fire should be interviewed about the location first observed, the color of any smoke and/or flame, any unusual odors, and any one observed in the area.

After the point of origin is located, the investigator will want to eliminate accidental causes of the fire.

Example accidental causes:

At the point of origin, the investigator may uncover "tell tale signs" of an arson.

"Tell tale signs" of an arson

The investigator's search for traces of flammable liquid residues may be aided by the use of a highly sensitive portable vapor detector called a "sniffer." Another approach is to use dogs that have been trained to recognize the odor of hydrocarbon accelerants.

Evidence to search for, process, and collect at the point of origin of a fire

Ignition sources -

An investigator should eliminate the possibility of any mechanical (frictional), chemical, or natural ignitions source for the fire before concluding the fire was deliberately set.

Typical Ignition Source Evidence

Accelerants -

As a matter of course, two to three quarts of ash and soot must be collected at the point of origin of a fire suspected of being an arson. The collection should include all porous materials and other substances likely to contain flammable residue.

Examples of substances likely to contain flammable residue

When searching for evidence of ignition sources and accelerants, the investigator should dig into the point of origin with a shovel and place the charred debris in a clean sealable paint can and forward to a crime lab for analysis.

It is important to get evidence from a fire scene to a lab as soon as possible because of the possibility of evaporation of the evidence.

Motive -
Possible motives for arson

Records -
Records that may be checked during an arson investigation


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