 |
|
|
Updated: 2:36 PM Apr 21, 2009
Two Arrested for Rockingham and Shenandoah County Fires
Shenandoah County A three-week investigation into suspicious fires has ended with two arrests. Posted: 2:16 PM Apr 20, 2009 |
|
22 Comments 
A three-week investigation into suspicious fires has ended with two arrests. What makes these arson cases different from most is that the investigation lead firefighters to two of their own.
Ryan John Frank Sullivan of New Market and Michael Allen Bell of Quicksburg were volunteer firefighters with the New Market Fire Department. They're now the suspects in several suspicious fires.
The sheriffs from Shenandoah and Rockingham counties say these two men allegedly set more than a half dozen fires in less than a month.
Both men are charged with four counts of arson in Shenandoah County.
They were arrested Saturday at the New Market fire house where they were volunteers.
A fire in Quicksville is still smoldering Monday night, five days after Bell and Sullivan are said to have set fire to the barn.
Fire officials say these incidents are not reflective of the entire fire department.
Shenandoah County Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Yew says, "Two young volunteers who's motives were other than public safety do not sour an entire volunteer rescue agency. Also, need to be aware that the officers and member of the New Market Volunteer Fire Department were completely cooperative with the investigation."
Bell and Sullivan are being held without bond in the Rockingham County Jail and more charges are pending.
Latest Comments
I think this situation is Just Crazy!!!! i just ryan the other day and he was talking about how he was going to try to get a paid fire fighter job in Prince William. I cannot believe that all this time he was the one causing such chaos in the county. these boys are what give the fire depts a bad name!!! Soon the communities around us are not going to trust the locals anyones as one mentioned in a previous comment. As for Rick... No the county nor the NMFD needs to go to career staff. Weve seen enough of that lately in the dissloving of Strasburg, which is a bunch BS as well! VOLUNTEERS do just the same. And just because these boys were volunteers does not mean you blame the whole Dept! Yes NMFD has had a black cloud over there head this year but you cannot blame the whole dept for these little boys mistakes. Those boys are the only ones to blame. The rest of the volunteers acted an put the fires out.
On this site as well as DNR, Jodi seems to be using the excuse of mental illness. All of these fires were premeditated by BOTH of the boys. They searched for vacant buildings. One of the buildings was a historical site. That is something that can never be replaced. During the same time as all of the fires, other crimes (cows being shot & robberies) were also being committed in the very same areas. I just hope that justice is served for everyone that was involved in every incident. If Ryan does have a mental illness and cannot live peacefully in a community, then maybe think about having him committed to an institution. There they will make sure he takes his meds. As for the other boy, what was his excuse? My philosophy is "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime"! I personally think that the boys wanted their 15 minutes of fame & glory. Setting fires gives them an adrenalin rush...just like a drug high.
I am not making excuses for Ryan. For those who know him from school and the community, you know that he was functional in school and church. That was when he was still living at home and was taking his medication. When medicated, he is rational and charismatic. When not medicated, he is irrational and has little to no impulse control. I fully expect and support the long prison term that is forthcoming. I do not expect or ask for leniency or special treatment. I only seek that he get the mental health treatment he needs so that once his incarceration is complete that he can become a productive member of society. I do not condone his actions. He knows right from wrong and what he did was WRONG! I just want others to know that if he had been taking the medication, he would not have committed these deviant crimes. However, mental illness is similar to an addiction: the person has to first recognize there's a problem then accept treatment for it. Ryan refuses to acknowledge his problem.
| National AP Video |
|
|
| WHSV Poll |
