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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 News articles about Sebastian Sun fireof tw, o we�elklies "d d am''a'': g"'" e` in . ' By JANINE'ANDERSON •Herald StaJJ Wrher-' . ' • "''The -fire'damaged SEBASTIAN — A fire that y seriously' damaged a Sebastian the'offices of The newspaper office early Sunday morning is being investigated for Palm'Bay..Sun, arson, fire officials said. A plastic milk carton contain-., With a circulation ing"gasoline was found in 'the area investigators believe the of about 17 000 ` "" , fire started, said Ralph "Buddy" � n , Arand, chief of the ,Sebastian and: the .' FireDepartmenL*v -.' " In' addition, two "windows. `Sebastian 1Sun, were open about six inches, even;,. though the 'building, at --841° with'about 10,000 Fellsmere Rd., is air-conditioned, ' he said. circulation.. . But investigators also found an' - electrical . outlet, between , two,', . wooden'fixtures that could have,._ started the fire,he said. re We'not' going to let them beat g . . "There were'some' unusual u5, ,, . , things in there, Arand said. A state ;fire marshal officer "But a lot will'depend on lab was'brought in from Orlando tests. iSunday to investigate the scene. .:The fire was contained to one The Palm .Bay Sun, with a ' room, but the, entire building circulation of about,17,000, and sustained'•smoke and heat dam- ;71 the S.ebastian`'Sun,''with about ,.age, Arand said, 10,000 circulation, are both pub- No one was in the offices lisped from the office: Both when investigatorsin believe the papers are distributed free: fire started, about 7 a.m., he said. Jack Fay, acolumnist/reporter It was reported -by someone. who for .the weeklies, said gasoline saw smoke coming out the roof. had been sprayed on three video display terminals and two com- nuteils in the office. a though Fay believes they, all 'ruined, he said' the s will probably be 'pub - Wednesday. is very sad," he said. "But Cap' sus In I rc; A i� Ne By DAVID BENESH A fire that gutted the office of a weekly newspaper in Sebastian will not keep the publication from putting out an edition Wednesday. Arson is suspected as the cause of the Sunday morning blaze at the office of The Sebastian Sun, 841 Fellsmere Road, Sebastian Police Chief Jerry Nappi said Monday. Sun personnel set up temporary office facilities Monday at a busi- ness complex off U.S. I in Sebas- tian after the 7:27 a.m. fire left the newspaper's office heavily dam- aged." Managing Editor Joan Pepper said three-quarters of the newspa- per's front office and composing room were gutted in the fire. The newspaper's computers were destroyed, Fay said, but records re- mained.intact. Nappi has directed Police Officer Vic Regan to conduct a specialin - vestigation of the arson case. Nappi said he will ask State "The machinery is pretty. well done • in, I. think, from the smoke," Arand said. But no files were destroyed, he said. Attorney \Investigator Reese Par- rish to jointhe arson probe. The police chief said a bottle containing some type of petroleum - based substance was found in the office. Suspected to be gasoline, it was reportedly spread throughout the office. "There are always some people who will disagree with the newspaper." Jack Fay The newspaper has moved its ieration into a building at,6035 ld ixic, Fay said. ° Sebastian Fire Chief Buddy Arand said a charred piece of wood behind an electrical outlet has raised the question that the fire may have been electrical in nature. Sebastian, Fellsmere and Vero Lake Estates volunteer firefighters extinguished the fire after a police officer's attempt failed to put out the flames, Nappi said. Flames of 4 to 6 feet engulfed the door of the composing room, Nappi said. Smoked filled the entire of- fice while flames burned several trusses, lie said, Ms. Pepper said gasoline was spread on all the edit writing ma- chines and her desk. Two front windows may have been opened by the suspect to spread the fire. Ms. Pepper said the person or persons suspected of causing the fire will be prosecuted to the "full- est extent of the law." Nappi would not comment if po- lice have any suspects in the case. "There are always some people who will disagree with the newspa- per," Fay said. "There's no news- paper in this country that isn't dis- liked by someone." 0 Arsonists strike abain Inves iorator: Fire at paper not an pv$on 17111 P6 By JANINE ANDERSON herald Staff Writer SEBASTIAN — A state arson investigator said test results show that gasoline was not used to start the fire that destroyed the Sebas- tian Sun newspaper office April 27. Investigator Charlie Hill has maintained from the beginning of his investigation for the State Fire Marshal's office that the fire appeared accidental, even though a plastic milk carton containing gasoline was found in the offices. Hill said almost all evidence i suggests the fire started in an t electrical wall outlet. "There was no gas used at the . point of origin fof the fire) as an accellerant; Hil said. Lab tests showed, however, that there was gasoline on the floor of a back room, where the milk carton was found. The Sebastian Sun, which circu- lates 10,000 free papers weekly,I and the Palm Bay Sun, which circulates 17,000 papers, were published from the office located off Fellsmerc Road. No one was injured at the fire, but all the equipment was ruined. The Sebastian Police Depart- ment is conducting a separate investigation. Police Chief Gerald Nappi said his investigator has interviewed numerous people and that the investigation is continu- ing. fly LVNIEPTL 1VEINNIAN Once again fire has struck at a newspaper belonging to Hen- ley Publishing Limited, puhiishers of The Bugle. The offices or the SebasLian Sun, in Sebastian, Fla., were gutted by an early morning lire which started about, six a.m. Sunday, April 27. Sun editiir, Jwmn Pepper, was called -to the tiro at appmxi- muLcly 7 a.m. Police and fire- fighters surrounded the build- ing which was engulfed in flames. Police were able to enter the building, however, where they found cans of gasoline, pointing to arson as the cause of the fire. Windows had been opened, apparently to ran the flames. Pepper, who is the daughter of Sid Weinman of Woodstock, said police found her desk and compugraphic machine had been drenched with gasoline. Sid Weinman, commenting on the fires at. the Sun and The Ifugle, and referring to two of his own properties recently burned by tu•sonisis, questioned the mentality of people who prefer to use matches and violence insLend of words and legal means to prove their point. The Sebastian Sun had been involved over a year in a campaign Ix bring responsible government to the town of Sebastian .. former may t Pat Flood was ousted a�d charged by 'i grand jury vfitli gross. raisin inagement. Food had refused to charge and Fire then police chief John Mellon, later indicted for grand theft and forgery. The Sun supported new police chief Gerry Nappi and a whole new slate or candidates for office, including mayor. Editor Joan Pepper received several threats to her life and for a while was provided with it bodyguard. in the weeks prior to the fire, she had filed several nfridaviLs and complaints because of threats against the newspaper and staff. l Investigators from the state ntLorney-general's office and the state fire ocmmissioner's office are investigating the Fire. Both the editor and the publisher, David Henley, say the paper will rise from Lhe ashes and go to press, in the same way 'rile Bugle did after the. fire on Oct. 21, 1,984. Space has been adc avail- able by area hifinnesses and various pcopl� have extended the use of Lhuir facilities so the paper can meet its deadline. The harA times lie ahead, in the weeks to come, when it will be nc ssary to put the paper loge cr wiLhouL the usual equ' loom and faciliLies. Those wl worked so hard to keep The l gle going under similar cir- umstances will understand how difficulC a task that will be. 1'or David Flcnlcy, whose task is now to pick up the pieces a second time, it will Lake courage and determination, which he has already shown he has. Fire damages n offices By Elliott Jones 4�zy/p FLORIDA TODAY Arson is suspected in the Sunday fire that cased about $30,000 to computers and equip- ment in offices of the Sebastian Sun and Palm Bay Sun ncwspa- pers, officials said Monday. Police believe someone may have tossed a flammable liquid around and deliberately set lire to the offices, Sebastian police Chief Gerald Nappi said. Fire, police and state auor- ncy's investigators are looking into the 7 a.m. blaze in the 900- square-fool building on Fellsmerc Road. twiner of flammable petro cum liquid and "there is 'ome cvi tact it was thrown ar and," •ippi said. "It looks lik arson' Two windows were foun .open in the air-conditioned buil ling, h said. Ralph Arand, chief of the Sebastian Volunteer Fire cpart- nient, said his inve ligation showed a shortage i an •Icctrical socket could have c it baled to the fire. Samples of carpeting and burned material were sent off for analysis, officials said.. Production of the newspapers has been moved temporarily to 6035 U.S. ].and the paper will be published on Wednesday, said Al son }} ot ruled 'out By JANINEANDERSON Herald Stall writer SEBASTIAN — A state arson investi- gator said Monday the fire that de- stroyed the Sebastian Sun newspaper office Sunday appears to have been accidental even though a plastic milk carton containing gasoline was found In the arcs. of the fire. Charlie Hill, an arson investigator for the State Fire Marshal's office, said the fire appears to have started at an electrical outlet. "Everything that I've got right now points to an accidental electrical fire;" Fill] said. But Hill has not ruled out arson. The Sebastian Sun, which circulates 10,000 free papers weekly, and the Palm Bay Sun, which circulates 17,000 papers, have received threats recently because of their stand on several political issues, managing editor Joan Pepper said. Pepper said one person, angry over the paper's support for former mayor Jim Gallagher, threatened, "We've got- ten rid of dim Gallagher [who did not seek re-election] and you will not be here after the (March] election. "If somebody Is behind this, we will prosecute them to the fullest possible extent," Pepper said. "You hear about threats, but when you look at this office and the heap of ashes, it Is hard to believe." The major shareholder, David Henley, of New Brunswick, Canada, owns anoth- Jack Fay, a writer, columnist and founder of the publication. "We're going to carry on and not let this, *stop us," bay said Monday as company officials worked to get electricity and telephones connecled. Both of the company's publi- cations are free distribution weekly newspapers. The Sebas- tian Sun circulates 10,000 papers, and the Palm Bay Sun distributes 17,000 topics, Fay said. Police officers unsuccessfully tried to put out the fire before volunteer firefighters arrived. Pay, who founded the publi- catons seven years alto, said, "We think it was started by somebody who had to be sick." i t' wick, called the Bugle, she said. About a year ago, It burned down and the case was never resolved, Pepper said. Even though Sunday's fire was dis- covered at the newspaper office at 841 Fellsmerc Rd. In Sebastian about 7 a.m., Hill believes It had been smoldering for about six hours. The entire building was damaged by heat and smoke, but there were no signs of major fire damage, Hill said. "If gasoline were used as an accelera- tor, we would have had a flame -like fire;" lie said. "I don't know why the gasoline was there. I cannot explain It." Hill sold Ile will receive tab results on samples he sent to the state lab, which could help explain whether gasoline was r{? to C MORE LOCAL STORIES . ® Lockmar Elementary students relive medieval era, 5A. is More news in Across a ` ` the Space Coast, 5A. i 2 Follow the police logs in Crimewatch, 8 & 9A. t _._. ..:_ __.�_ . _ Owl ll) teets mn INT fire n arse P i By Daniel Horgan II FLORIDA TODAY Laboratory tests show that the April 27 fire that gutted the offices of the Sebastian Sun news- paper was not the work of an arsonist, as police indicated ear- lier, the state fire marshal said Friday. The fire, which caused about S30,000 damage to computers and equipment in the offices, appears to have been an electrical fire and not deliberately set, Fire Marshal Charles Hill of Orlando said Friday. "It has all the characteristics of an accidental electrical fire. I can't explain about all the ghost things;' Hill said, referring to gasoline found in the offices after the fire. Sebastian police officers in- vestigating the fire found gasoline splashed on computer terminals in the office. A plastic milk jug containing a small amount of sasoline also was found in the office and a window was left open, though the office is air- conditioned,- Sebastian Police Chief Gerry \appi said after the fi re. Recently completed lab tests of samples from the fire indicate that it did not start where the gasoline was found, Hill said. Lab tests also show the fire was not an incendiary blaze, one started by a flammable agent such as gasoline, Hill said. Sources close to the fire marshal's investigation said there are indications the accidental fire may have been made to look as if it were deliberately set. The fire marshal is investigating the possi- bility of evidence tampering in the case, said an employee with the Fire marshal's office who asked not to be identified. Sebastian police Officer Vic Regan, who is investigating the fire, said he could not comment Q.( on whether police are looking into possible evidence tampering. "We have no concrete leads. The only suspects we investigated had al- ibis," he said. David Henley, the newspa- per's publisher, said he could not comment on the case. The Sun has a circulation of 10,000. A sister publication, the 17,000-circulation Palm Bay Sun, also is printed by the company. The newspaper currently is work- ing out of temporary offices on U.S. 1. ,1 C Page 20 Week of May 21, 1986 The Sun Leaks re ardin fareg g heat up over ca Despite leaks to two daily papers circulating ■ e in the Indian River County area, Sebastian police officials say there is no final report on the cause of a fire which destroyed the of- fices of Treasure Coast Publishing' on April 27. Sebastian police say that the information given out by an employee of the State Fire Marshal's office was premature. Charles Hill, an investigator with the Fire Marshal's office said he has no idea where the information' came from, adding that it could not have come from an employee from his office. Ac- cording to published reports in the Florida To- day paper, the employee was said to have asked that his identity not be revealed. The employee was reported to have stated that laboratory results suggested that the fire was started accidentally and that the gasoline found in the office could have been the result of tampering with evidence. Inspector Hill however, denied that his office has reached any such conclusion. He further stated that the the published report was incorrect and that to date, there is no evidence whatsoever leading to the conclusion that someone allegedly "made the fire appear to be caus- ed by an arsonist." Calls have since been placed by Sun Press-: dent David Henley to the office of Florida's Fire Commissioner Bill Gunter asking why the employee who made the leaks was allow- ed to do so. Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, the calls are being handled in a con- fidential manner and the Sun is unable to reveal the status of that portion of the inquiry. Officer. Vic Regan who is heading up the investigation for the police department said some of the information published may not be true. Regan said a preliminary analysis of the cause, according to Hill was that it was due to,a faulty electrical outlet in the back of the building. Despite a jug containing gasoline and some rug samples analysed as having gas spilled on the rug, the State Fire Marshal office's in- spector said he believed that the fire actually began because of the faulty electrical outlet. Laboratory results on an analysis of the electrical components have not yet been released. A firm in Tampa should get the in- formation to police any day. The office was badly damaged and much of the equipment destroyed. Regan noted that despite the informations that was leaked, "it is still obvious that inflam- mable materials were there and they were placed there, and that needs to be in- vestigated. Regardless of anyone's so-called conclusions in this case, our department is still investigating an arson at the Sun." Employees at The Sun said no gasoline was ever used inthe process of making up the paper. n .30 m)n.� C,wre.,idw,Kln eypin,i°,tmlpy �u,v.n ..wv w.•__-_ .... �.. NJI�Una, vwo,n........... ....... _ 25 min. '' 2�h M. lakr. 7 M, later Sebastian Police Continue Hospito unity lherc Newspaper Fire investigation ;e-viccs to- transferred m Funeral ., for sere. Rayntnnds err under III( Fwnrral sher J 3663 15th 986. at the r. 17, 1906, in been a resi- since 1976, 1. -operator of icy in High - was a grad- L-ngineering rk, lie was a he Highland )clroit Yacht ember of the Detroit and ie Boulevard son, Richard n: a brother, bile, Ala.; a of Dearborn, vo grandsons; In. c family there or visitation. rvices will be i at Crestlawn Buddy Tipton, ssemhly, nffi- -Itts ,are under runk Funcral ind In South Beach. were reported ,n seen bringing )in the surf at 'Icing south in a :latcd incident, ay observed two a truck believed rugs that had c men fled from itate Road AAA 510.—" 11 marijuana were Bashed ashore in Lucie and Martin By (IRIS f LARSON Sebastian police are continuing to investigate the April 27 fire that destroyed the Sebastian Sun news- paper office despite reports the fire was accidental. According to Schasli;un 1106Cc SI)Cc.iai Invcstigalnr ViCLor Regan, those rr.por(s are prcnsd.ure. "We're still investigating it as ;t fire and as an arson," Regan said. "There is nothing new to report. I talked with (state fire marshal investigator) Charlie Hill and the final report has not been relwsed." Regan did note Hill had said the fire appeared to start away from an area in the office where police found evidence of gasoline in the back room. That could mean the fita was not started and fueled by the gasoline, Regan explained. "Some lab results are back, and some are not back," Regan said. "It was gasoline in the jug, but the point ICy►or Taylor and Finch also face mari- juana trafficking and conspiracy to import cocaine charges in addition to racketeering. California pilots Thomas Simon and Michael William Morris, along with Vero Beach resident and Gary Anthony, are three admitted ex - members of the ring who agreed in January and February to testify against Taylor and the ethers. In the past week, pilot John D. Cooper, 35, of Broomfield, Colo., and alleged ground crew number Virl S. Monroe, 29, of Vern Bcach, pleaded no contest to rackelvering and have agreed to testify. David W. Fretwell, 31, of Vero Beach, and Coss Cousins,Go, of Miami, were two other defendants whose no contest pleas last week slid not consist or their agreeing to testify. The key to the ring's demise could be traced back to March 1981, when Simon introduced Taylor to Morris, an ex -Marine pilot, who had just lost his pilot's job it Yosemite Airlines and needed money. Simon, at a deposi- tion, admitted working with Rau - le -son, and Taylor brought up the nanncs of Simon and Morris in the Bancoshares case. Morris said he made several rums for Taylor, but said he ceased his snuggling career in June 1982, when he and Frelwell were stopped by U.S. Customs in Lake- land for illegally cnlering the coun- of origin of the fire didn't appear to have been (there)." According to reports from Hill, the fire may have started through a faulty electrical outlet. "The. electrical components themselves, the lab msults have not been released ydi.," Regan said. A Tampa investigating firm.fs going, over those and should get the information L the police any day. Most of the office equip eat in the building located on County Road 512 was destroyed in the building that produced the Seb tian Sun, a 10,000-circu)ation �rcc weekly, and the Yalin Bay Sun, a 17,000-circula- ion South Brevard unty paper. There were no inju- I ics, according to officials. What happens 4s far as the case is concerned c epends on all LhV results being final, Regan said. "(I is still obvious," he noted, however, "that the (,nfl:unnnable} 14laterials were there and they were Maced there, alid that needs to be investigated." From Pg. 1 A Mill. Simon suhsequcnly PI adcd guilty. Both were scien d to state prison. ' The Morris/Frelwell incident seemed to fade away for more than three years. Morris said, until he heard from U.S. Customs and Indian River County sheriff's Detective Paul Fafeila, who, in fol- lowing up the Fretwell6innon rasr", learned of the June 1902 in- cidenL. Morris, who was upset that Taylor hadn't kept. him out of trou- ble, said he agreed to testify againa. 'Taylor and the rest after fearing Prosecution by Indian River County authorities. Mean- while, Anthony volunteered infor- mation about Taylor. Morris then linked Simon to the organization. Three days after returning to Indian River County Jail to face ncketecring charges, Simon agreed to testify against Taylor. At a pre-trial hearing, FBI Spe- cial Agent Dave Callan testified that Taylor had a change of heart after silting in the county jail a few clays, calling him to the jail. "Mr. Taylor was interested in seeing if I could be a go-between — if I could make some kind of deal with the state attorney's Office." Callan said. "Fie indicated to me he recol;- nired he had broken his prim (inr Coverage However, six in 10 said televi- sion would give senators with good camera presence an advan• tape over other senators. The House of Representatives has had television cameras in its chambers since 1979, but only 32 percent of the respondents in the Media Gencral-AP poll said they had seen any of the coverage. Among those who watched, 57 percent said they saw it occasion• VISITII Daytime: I a.n livening: 7 to 8: Intensive Care utes at 10 a.m., Maternity: 3.5 Children will their mothers connpanied by parent or maternity visit Want is not pr FRIDAY ADMISSION None FRIDAY DISCHARGE Rodney Aiello Caroline Ginn George Kraft Terra Mahove Lessie Phillip Michael Shifr From PC ally, and 31 hardly ever sa Because th flowing, moo the House, a fewer senator that the Sen: more interest than the Hou But that sc in the House the Senate's debate. Prom Night Quiet Law enforcement officials Sunday reported no significant in- cidaris involving Vero Beach High School prom -goers Saturday night, The Vero Beach Police Depart- ment received one complaint of rowdy prom teens at the Driftwood Inn and inside Waldo's, including minor property damage at the hotel. "Prop venlful, for police Sgt. said that all had a busy of the ordin; "We had to the prom MEMOR CLAS�l DEAL The Press -Journal's Classifies will be closed Monday, M Memorial Day. .3-i a Page 20 Week of May 21, 1986 The L.ea reg ardi Despite leaks to two daily papers circulating in the Indian River County area, Sebastian police officials say there is no final report on the cause of a fire which destroyed the of- fices of Treasure Coast Publishing' on April 27. Sebastian police say that the information given out by an employee of the State Fire Marshal's office was premature. Charles Hill, an investigator with the Fire Marshal's office' said he has no idea where the information came from, adding that it could not have come from an employee from his office. Ac- cording to published reports in the Florida To- day paper, the employee was said to have asked that his identity not be revealed. Sun ed to do so. Due to the sensitive nature of . the issue, the calls are being handled in a con- fidential manner and the Sun is unable to reveal the status of that portion of the inquiry. Officer Vic Regan who is. heading up the investigation for the police department said some of the information published may not re s no evi ence whatsoever be true. leading to the conclusion that someone, Regan Regan said preliminary analysis of the allegedly "made the fire appear to be cans- . .cause, according to Hill was that it was due ed by an arsonist." to.a faulty electrical outlet in the back of the . fire heat u .over. p cau.1c.� The employee was reported to have stated that laboratory results suggested that the fire was started accidentally and that the gasoline found in the office could have been the result of tampering with evidence. Inspector Hill however, denied that his office has reached any such conclusion. He further stated that the the published report was incorrect and that to date the i d Calls have since been placed by Sun Presi-: dent David Henley to the office of Florida's Fire Commissioner Bill Gunter asking why the employee who made the leaks was allow - building. Despite a jug containing gasoline and some rug samples analysed as having gas spilled on the rug, the State Fire Marshal office's in- spector said he believed that the fire actually began because of the faulty electrical outlet. Laboratory results on an.analysis of the, electrical components have not yet been released. A firm in Tampa should get the in- formation to police any day. The office was badly damaged and much of the equipment destroyed.1. . Regan noted that despite the information• that was leaked, "it is still obvious that inflam- mable materials were there and they were placed there, and that needs to be in- vestigated. Regardless of anyone's so-called conclusions`in this case, our department is still Investigating an arson at the Sun." Employees at The Sun said no gasoline was ever used inthe process of making up the paper. , Q V BlazeCalled AP c9nCOmmentdenfa l A fire which gutted the Sebas- acciden:ia] caus� 1Oftage on the gasoline found on tian Sun newspaper in April was an electrical soc et in wall that the desk.. determined to be accidential, a separate:; the newspaper s recep- "Samples taken in a close prox- state fire marshal investigator said tion room and copy room," Hill imiSa of the desk showed that gaso Friday. said. .line was not the cause of the fire," The fire, which caused an a to - The Sebastian Police Department Hill said. meted newspa$30,000per worth of damage to suspected arson as the cause of the the newspaper off County Road fire when a petroleum -based sub- The Police Department is con- . 512 in Sebastian, was determined stance was found spread on the ducting a separate investigation of not be arson, said Charlie Hill, desk of Publisher Joan Pepper. the fire. Lt. John Emrick, who investigator for the state fire mar• heads the police investigation, shal in Orlando. "I can find no evidence that gaso- could not be reached for comment "The report is finished and we line was used as an accelerant in Friday. Police Chief Jerry Nappi determined that the fire was the fire," Hill said. "I cannot could not be reached for comment. Forth County Recreation Summer activities run from June 11.1, Adult Open House, Sebas- 16 until July 25 unless otherwise tian Community Center, no charge// noted. 11-1, Adult Open Howe, Fellsmere Municipal Building no charge. Monday 1-4, Open Bridge, Seb stian 8:30.3:30, Summer Recreation, Yacht Club, no charge. Sebastian Middle School, no 2:30-4, Girls Cheerleadin Clinic, charge. Sebastian Middle School,5�0. 9-10, Morning DanceAerobics, 4-5, Boys Wrestling Clinic, Pero Sebastian Community Carter, $2. Beach High School, no charge. $3 daily. 11-1, Adult Open House, Sebas- tian Community Center, no charge. Thursday/ I1.1, Adult Open House, Fells. 8:30.3:30, Summer Recrea ion, mere Municipal Building, no charge. t Sebastian Middle �Scho6� no charge. 10-11, Senior Ceramic Work - Tuesday shop, Sebastian Community Cen- ter, no charge. 8:30.3:30, Summer Recreation, 11-1, Adult Open House, Sebas- Sebastian Meddle School, no tian Community Center, no charge. qq !�y charge. 11-1, Adult Open House, Sebas• tian Community Center, no charge. 11.1, Adult Open House, Fells- mere Municipal Building, no 11.1. Adult Olen House, Fells- charge. 6-7. DanceAerobics N01i Rathv. 6:30-8:30, Adult Open/Basket- ball, Sebastia/urd chool, 25 cents daily. S� 9.12, Gifts Softball Clinic and Registration, Roseland Ballf;eld, no charge (one day only -June 14) 30, Adult Open Basketball, ebastian ?.fiddle School, 25 cents daily. All DanceAerobics classes are as follows: $2 per lass charge if pre- paid by the month, and a $3 per class charge if paid on a daily basis. Girls Softball playing days and times will be set up and announced after the Softball Clinic and Regis- tration Day, held Saturday, June 14, from 9 until noon at the Rose- land Ballfield. Not gin, and 6 a IJaLL2 F2EZSOnnr !Eh'ELEI ' 1627 U.S. 1, Sebastian Center .si - Mon: Tn. 9 30-5:30, Sat. 9:30-2:00 t After bows appoint -cents accepted. , r�"dYFYYfMIWYf/Y`I-Y^!'L: r y Plan Funer�' i Arrang�ement, in Affiance? Bechuvc There's 7irne To Talk Thmyg O.a Frar JN _ Tr. -. Havin[srnMthe famille� 'erea ter mc[rn - veF.evrr.mays'svuaao �-1 �Y •n.:•e lSmi.ies wand to C ��-- ne;w!iui hs p:annn - J•-5 => pro d sp{nr•v .' K torrpmssfml, [ n reined alma • x nd sp res sse_i�_ > !.mils from � tliffrcis There is a difference in funeral horn Pottinger & Sop Funeral Home, Inc. 1200 S. Indian River Dr. Sebastian, FL 589-4004 A Famlij, Serving Families Off'; On the Indian River IN SEEASTIAN DEEP SEA FISEIR11 The newest, cleanest E fastest b • Experience plus safety • All-fibergloss bool • Two sestrooms • Seating for every person Licensed for off -shore fis in n c•vv3Nup�t 5 grout theLrai T11neSS. is net But the )rein -activated systems A6 1 fiscal have now prompted county off*- F ire B e i n g cials to ban nighlt*nnc [rain whis- vill be lies as FL:C locomotives pass Channel Chuck through county crossings from investigated " DOT p.m. to G a.m. Officials say tine au- u- The boated systems are adequate to + ✓f /z) / j , �(% nately protect motorists, but they still By TOM MOCZYDLOWSKI paving allow the [rain whistles in the South county Arson Investiga. event of emergencies., for Gunter Kuehn is assisting an investigation into whether evi- dence was fabricated at the fire scene of the Sebastian Sun build- �c` pJ f ing. Kuehn said Thursday that the - state attorney is leading a follow- up investigation into the fire scene. The state attorney, the ilding, Bryan, Robin A. Wiggins and Indian River County Sheriff's ogular Cedric G. Wynn. Department and Kuehn are in - Jensen Beach volved with the investigation. About $150,000 damage was re - Causeway Closing Ported when The Sebastian Sun The Jensen Beach causeway building, 041 Fellsmere Road, caught fire April 27.. grad- will be closed to vehicu:ar traffic The Sun has relocated to ichogl align from July 14.23 in order to re- place some slruclrual steel under an office complex on U.S. 1 near the high 6 the roadway, the state Depart - southern limits of.Sebastian. ncipal meet of Transportation an- The Sebastian Police Depart- nounced. ment, headed by specially ap- According to a DOT spokesman, Pointed investigator Victor Regan, q J in- the contractor for the project began an investigation into the 1 Suz- intends to open the bridge after blaze. In late May, however. after his working hours each day. Began resigned from the force and filed criminal complaints against _ the department and Police Chief Gerald Nappi. A subsequent investigation by eC] \ A / C -the slate fire marshal determined V Y J the cause of the fire to be acciden- tal and it was traced to an electri- cal shortage. 'ALSI about 11:30 p.m. after a woman However, gasoline was later dep- was attacked. found at the fire scene. Gasoline B, 37- According to deputies, the 23- had been poured over the desks nle fol- year -old Vero Beach resident had and office equipment, said Kuehn. that sday. asked a man who was driving a . The follow-up investigation is car for a ride.. After getting into centering on how the gasoline got iports• the vehicle, which had tile same li- there. It was not traced as the )f 300 tense plate as the one stolen car• cause in the original investigation, n, was girl said she was taken to said Kuehn. n 'inthe an unknown location along 41st ••Our investigation is f progres• Id her Street west of Kings Highway. sing. There is still a lot of work to do," said Kuehn. Fe her Deputies said the suspect then Although the official cause or Vol iag made sexual advances toward lilt the fire was found to be an cleclri- n the female. She broke loose and tried cal short the gasoline might mean while to escape, but the suspect chased evidence was fabricated to make 5100 her in the car, hitting some nearby it appear to be an arson. The lam - property, deputies said. poring or fabrication with evi- tearby With the victim scre:miing for dence is a third-degree felony, help• the suspect began to beat Kuehn said. the the girl. A witness, though, was 57,500 able to drive him away, according lorida to records. Descriptions of the man who al- z,.` Florida Shutters, lnr:. fCRY: tacked the girl are the same as _�x si,uw•r. s A.+•+d++c.1 we al- those or the man suspected in the - ,Wenl, armed robbery and false impris. (305) 569-2200 onment that happened about mn 1125 Lommer" Ave. V.I.Ooach. Fbnea 32960 called hour earlier, according to records. - - changinf o A W. /NOO8 37gf,.D / ymptorns: • feeling of frustration • confused look • no idea what's on TV • unable to make decision,, • switching from channel to channel Cure: • The new TV Time bookle seven more channels. Thi Cinemax, PTL, The Movi( Channel, Lifetime, Disnel Channel, Arts and Entertainment, Nickelodc Florida Cablevision has determined th, new TVTimeis good for your television vi health. Find it only in your Press -Journal. .457 -/ 116- /,� � Sun Fire Evidence Questioned BYTOM MOCZYDLOW SKI Arson Investigator Gunter 1{uel\n said Monday that evidence was fabricated following a fire at the former Sebastian Sun building. "The way this was Perpetrated, it was definitely done in a way to make it appear it was an arson," said Kuehn, a lieutenant will' the South County Fire District. The fabrication of evidence is n third-degree felony. Someone ��TO poured gasoline on office desks �� and equipment to make it appear Entrepreneur that the fire was arson, when ac tu- abe- lly it was accidently caused be- forehand by an electrical short. Sebastian's first cab company The April 27 fire at the former ness in June of this year. Don Sebastian Sun building, 841 Fells - mere Road, caused about $60,000 one of the two Yellow Cabs tha damage. The Sebastian weekly has relocated to an office complex on U.S. 1 near the southern limits of Sebastian. Special investigator Victor Regan originally examined the fire scene for the Sebastian Police Depart. merit. In late May, however, Regan resigned from the force and filed criminal complaints against. the de- partment and Police Chief Gerald Nappi. A subsequent investigation by a state fire marshal determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and it was traced to an electrical short. Kuehn and the Sheriff's Depart- ment are investigating the fabrica- tion of evidence at the request of the state attorney's office. "I'm not m-doing what the fire marshal did," said Kuchn. The fire was accidental, not arson, but evi- dence was fabricated. There may be more than one suspect involved.. The investigation should wrap u in a week." irn �, ra6 .f r at Yo-ureService temporary entplo�'mcnt S-crelnrint tirr\'ice 778-2969 uffir-e mw reneral 1:01nr Innpc nc±tlorr,7(skL J t t r„ p �{ e • r3rr • • f . .•J'. �fi /_ .. ed for busi- neet of vehicles that wi er shows off beginning of service th, make up the (Pre! Sh rt Term investments, including s( C s/FSLIC Insured S. Government Securities 3�. ` Ginnie Mae" funds 4. Tay: -Free Investments 5. Bonds —Trusts —Funds Special emphasis will be placed on goner; income and preservation of capital. July 15t11 July 16tli July 17t WhCn: 11:30 AM 17:30 AM 11:30 ,V LUNCH WILL BE SERVI Sea.tinf� limited to 20 persons. For roservntioils, call 231-1111, Norma \Vol Where: CGH�n, C®�nferl . , 9, 3 g9� _ i%1/ithlnZepth Fire Probe By TOM MOCZYDLOWSKI ;:i An investigation into the alleged Y't+ fabrication of evidence after a fire ". to The Sebastian Sun building may lead to the indictment of four people on a total of seven charges. Fire Lt. Gunter Kuehn said Monday he will turn over his report to the state attorney later this wcck. Froth there, the report is expected to go to a grand jury. Tj:o document contains interviews with 35 people and five lab technicians. Kuehn is an arson investigator for the South Indian River County Fire District. I -le and Charles Hill, - an agent, or the stale fire marshal, did the bulk of the investigation. "We sLartcd stirring, and the more we stirred, the more it stank," said liuchn. "We want to assure the Laxpay- ers that we are following things up. No one can say it was swept under the rug." The identities or suspects will be withheld until the slate attorney Will possibly a grand jury review the report, said Kuehu. /'He did say, however, the suspects conspired to "implicate a prominent Seb;slian citizen." In addition to criminal conspiracy, other charges are the fabrication of evidence, obstruction of justice, and an attempt to intimidate a public servant. liuchn bcltm, his investigation June G at the request of the state bli- attorney. The fire had occurred more than a month before on April the 27. It caused $Li0,000 damage to de- The Sebastian Sun building, 041 Fellsmere Road. The Sun, a weekly in the Sebas- :ri- tian area, has since relocated to an onrs. office complex oil U.S. 1 near the lie southern limits of the city. he The Sebastian te, Police Depart - en[. Y e %a�,k,( ., mheadedby id specially ap- ly c peinled officer r er . !�7� „�. .� Victor Regan began an inves. .'�• 1�'�''"'r'd?�,tiEr,... 'r Ligation soon after the blaze. In late May, .e i✓ kL • L;.�r however, Regan m Gunter Kuehn resigned from Ic the force and filed criminal complaints against ly the department and police Chief •. Jerry Ntfppi. 7C One of the complaints, led to the Y• arrest of patrolman Scott Sher- ut brook by the Sheriff's Department on charges he taped statements by N city resident John Holder without his knowledge. Sherbrook was sus- pended, but later reinstated by Nappi. An investigation by the stale fire marshal determined the cause of .d The Sebastian Sun fire to be acci- od dental and it was traced to an elec. trical short. 14' However, gasoline was later I- found at the fire scene. Gasoline L- had been poured over the desks and office oquipmeal. Kuehn's follow-up investigation centered on how the gasoline got there. r Someone fabricated evidence or made it appear ppcar that arson had caused the fire• said liuchn. "It was a relatively simple fire." said liuchn. "This whole charade was done in effect to try and be misleading." Kuehn said his recommendation to the %Late attorney is to have a grand jury examine the allcgations`� lobe From Pg. 1 A "Wherever we went, we stum• bled into politics;' said Kuehn. ,,But by no means was our investi- gation influenced by political affil- iations or biases. We sought the truth." Kuehn and Hill conducted the in- vestigation with the full Cooper- ation of the Indian River County Sheriff's Dep. "Nappi also agreed to have this investigation conducted," said Kuehn. L U N1 ,says evidencel '�BvElllott jBYE1110tUtines IFFA FLWORIDA T DAY'., South If an River! t Fire District Investigator unter . Kuehn s calling for ran ju 'Investigation into possible dence,VM ngiln connec on, with a lire at the Sebastian Qi6l *—Gasoline was'lifllr sliie around the Paper's fon6It quarters on CR 510, and leIn a.ea 1 contalner'at the scene.' In an- attemPVto "frame a Prominent citizen In Sebastian," Kuehn said. He refused to name the Pelson. N i ffi Kuehn wants a igr'and'ju to. consider Indicting four unidenti- 'fied people on charges such`as fabrication of evidence; obst c. 1'` tion of Justice, and criminal can- V, spiracy.:, The Investigator's 600 page report. goes to the State ttolt- ney's.office Friday;. Assistant State Attorney Joe Wild rel A US -A comment until his Office review [Kuehn's findings. Xuelm's: probe comes on the heels' of State -Fire, Marshall d'Charles Hill's rulin blaze was 1 9 that the. an aCcidential electri. t: Cal tire that began Inside a, wait r,.Iof the newspaper's building.,Hlil concluded gasoline did not cod-',. tribute to the 4_1 j- Sebastian police }were-tb to arrive at the scene of the. re, an 1olice Chief - eral a ec a a I has ' .said.,e suspecte ause Of the gasoline. a cannot ,figure Out or,.co - clu e why this "gasoline wa ere," Nappi said In'June aft er- illissue is report vidence "' tampering, took' Place," Kuehn said Of his length Investigation Involving '35 wil, nesses. He used the State Attoe.. ney's - Office'to subpoenasome' People for questioning,,, 4,p.: t toga fhead!.astahiadt Joan' g ' publisher of the weekly Sebastian as gone'On long* (enough. Investigators h jvL knOwn*frOm the day Of the fire ithat gasoline Was Scene.­L�) found't,• at th The fire caused,;40,000 to .$601000 damage and forced the �!�ePMY!IeWspaper to relocate. "I hope they (the grand jury i do * their Job In a non-political fash 7.,P,�Pper said. I xr-� I'— 0 Z9 r the heat of the moment Thorosa DoGapua• FLORIDA TODAY I: Lawn maintenance worker Hugh of his labors after hauling landscaping gear of Vero Beach wipes away the sweat onto his handmade trailer. ndidates wrangle over school site celing of the Vero idian River County Realtors that Talbert her mind before three -Ili county sites were dered. rt, Waddell and David wartz face each other :. 2 Republican primary lislrict t seal held by idcll's twisting the albcrt said after the ;he said she looked into traffic and sewer and tbicros before suggest- ing the site. Waddell said more buses may be needed if the school is built at the CR 510 site. But Talbert said after the meeting that this location would cut down on busing. "The slu- dcnis now are bused from the north county to Vero peach," she said. Waddell disagreed. "This is a lot of 'mighls' and 'maybes' and that is my point," he said. "We need to publicly evaluate all the sites before making a decision." lie accused Talbert of lacking .1 objectivity. Talbert said, the building location is not final. A site Waddell suggested in the middle of Sebastian is a poor location, according to Swartz. "I live across the street from the site," he said, and road im- provements would be needed. Also, it is near what Swartz described as a dangerous inter- section: U.S. 1 and Schumann Drive. Waddell is a Vero Beach insurance executive, and Swartz, of Sebastian, runs a photography business. '•ti 9..S � Ml 1 4 1� `5�i1 Investigator says evidence; mishandled s By Elliott Jones FLO RIDA TODAY South Indian River County Fire District Investigator Gunter; Kuehn is calling for a grand jury, investigation into possible cvi dence tampering in connection: with a fire at the Sebastian Sum newspaper in April. Gasoline was splashed around the paper's former head-: quarters on CR 510 and left in a� container at the scene in an attempt to "frame a prominent citizen in Sebastian." Kuehn said. Ile refused to name the person. Kuehn wants a grand jury to consider indicting four unidenti- fied people on charges such as fabrication of evidence, obstruc- tion of justice and criminal con- spiracy. The investigator's 600-page report goes to the Slate Allor- ney's Office Friday. Assl Stale Aurrgey_, os,�,!jf-refusc0 _ commen unu is oft cc reviews Kuehn's findings Kuehn's probe comes on the heels of Slate Fire Marshall Charles hill's ruling that the blaze was an accidential electri- cal fire that began inside 1 wall of the newspaper's buildin . hill concluded gasoline did not con- tribute to the fire. Sebastian police were he first to arrive at the scene of l e fire, and Police Chief Gera d Nappi has said he suspectet( arson because of the gasolino. "We cannot figure out or con- clude why this gasoline was there," Nappi said in June after I1111 issued his report. "Evidence tampering took place," Kuehn said of his lengthy investigation involving 35 wit- ncsses. He used the Stale Attor- ney's Office to subpoena some people for questioning. "I'm glad that this is coming to a head," said Joan Pepper, publisher of the weekly Sebastian Sun. "This has gone on long enough. Investigators have known from the day of the fire that gasoline was found" at lhp scene. The fire caused $40,000 to $60,000 damage and forced the weekly newspaper to relocate. "I hope they (the grand jury) do their job in a non -political fashion," Peppersaid. to get to bottom of oficreased violence t of Colored People. home al4530381hAvenue . Residents and the Sheriff's make law enforcement officers. month of so, it seems Office are talking about joining /thing has been going "I was shocked," hart said - forces to combat the colnmu- Monday after hearing of the nity'scrim problems. "The community is trying to work with the sheriff. That's all a decent person can do," 'ran Ross of the Citizens the Arlvanrment nr C.iffnrd shooting. Sam Brown "is a fine �� .. _. n.. 1 n r.; r. mnn nnn nr' nnr ni,Wnndin" "Ciffn�Ifis ecltinr_ to be the ,t to_ Douce r By Elliott Jones FLORIDATODAY ?rts y to two the the any, : the and ping has hem ,unds d the ision aith a is h has bond ildren y now Sebastian police have re- opened their probe into the Sebastian Sun fire after a county fire investigator called for a grand jury investigation into possible fabrication of evidence found at the scene. Police Chief Gerald Nappi assigned two police officers to the case Tuesday and gave it top priority, he said. South Indian River County Fire District Investigator Gunth- er Keuhn said the fire at the newspaper office in Sebastian in April was made to look like arson. id two an and A knowledge source close to the investigation.says someone was trying to discredit former Sebastian Nfayor Pat Flood. Flood agrees. "That's the trend ... to discredit me;' he said. "Nothing would surprise me" Flood said Tuesday that in, vestigatom came to his house several days after the fire and asked his whereabouts on the morning of the blaze. Gasoline was thrown around the office and a milk jug of the flammable liquid was found at the scene, Keuhn said. But a state fire marshal ruled an electrical problem — not gasoline — caused the fire. Keuhn has concluded a ® umora Ivuiyi luu, 1 1­y- Park supervisor wantec> to get involved, 5A. 1 ® Follow police listings in Crimewatch, 9 & 10A. I® officials link skyrocketing murder ral to drugs, alcohol,18A. t tlunflreprob lengthy probe o wants a grand jury investigation that could lead to indictments of tour unnamed people. Possible chargzs include fabrication of evidence, criminal conspiracy, 5arce sand misfeasance, Iieuhn said. "I'm very optimistic about the case, that there will be a grand jury and indictments;' he said. Assistant State Attorney David Morgan refused comment until he gets Keuhn's report. Keuhn expects to turn his report over to the State Attorney's office Friday. Sebastian police ended their first probe without finding proo of falsified evidence and sus- A to ^S('• � j { 1 .^�R 3S,�.� ."#-�+',�_'r:'--•R.�y���'."%i pected that the fire was cause by arson, Nappi said. Theinvesti• gation was put on inactive status when the police investigator, victor Regan, suddenly resigned, saying NaPPi and other officers had attemped to force him out of office. The State Attorney's Office recommended that Kuehn look into the fire after State Fire Marshall Charles Hill concluded there had been evidence tam. pering, Kuehn said. "The lab analysis collabo rated what we basically sus- pected — that evidence at the fire scene was put their deliber- ately, ately,, the fire investigator said. f Kuehn said Nappi did not object to the renewed probe. GUNTHER KEUHN: Evidence at scene put there deliberately. - Hospital checks readiness LA Aricane in mock emergency 4 , 14 ByDanlel Horgan 11 ' ' FLORIDATODAY 6 6 It gives the Staff, here some idea of ,`jr �� Panicked by broadcasts roaching tan what the actual anohurricane, Richard only'ono; proposal." Nappl'sa)d. '--ouncll wants lb see other propo- sals. "We want to look at what is equi- able and accommodating for the iolice department," Nappi said. You get what you pay for! "My concern is that the proposal a benefit to the community and ompatible to the police depart- nent's needs, not at the present, ut in the future." In other action tonight, council ill consider: Accepting the first reading of a 'solution setting forth the 1987 ;cal budget. - Council is in Lite process of mold• g workshops to discuss and anee the budget. Public hearings 11 be held Sept. 3 and 17 before nsideration is given to the mrid reading of the resolution d final adoption of the budget. A resolution adding a job de. 'iption to the city's standard op- tting procedures for an assistant ance director position. :ouncil is considering (tiring an ;istant finance director but no ) description for the position has an spelled out in the SOPS, The ,v position will be added to the y work force to help handle the swing fiscal responsibilities of • Sebastian Finance beparlment. neappi ,May t Sebastian Police Chier Jerry Nappi may be reopening his own department's investigation into The Sebastian sun fire that hap- pened April 27, That was the information re- ceived Tuesday by Fire Lt. Gunter Kuehn, an arson investigator for the South County Tire District. Kuehn has completed an investi- gation involving the fabrication of evidence that allegedly occurred after the fire to The Sebastian Sun building. "1 was in contact with Nappi when we all agreed to this follow- up investigation," said Kuehn, who began his investigation June G. 'eopen Probe Nappi could not be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon. Kuehn said Nappi gave a sworn deposition relating to his investiga- tion last week. Kuehn said he has interviewed 35 people and five lab technicians for his investigation. His report will be turned over to Lite state attorney later this week. Kuehn is recommending that it be reviewed by a grand jury and that indictments be sought for four people. In addition to fabrication of evi- dence, the allegations include crim- inal conspiracy, obstruction of justice and an attempt to intim- idate a public servant. 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Braz We hope to be your E)UI}D3 Suoo:)7D2: m•ne-„,, y wn9'v5pt`+�'t Yfl.i� 0 SJO .lei J�pp 1 fgM.f1$b'Pwny:IrypaMIR�,. .., ]K�.iu.ilR.,4T-'1T � 1!�wwrR4 i REGIONAL/4B FINANCE/5B Wednesday, August 20, 1986 The Miami Herald I Section B a sp P . fo Arsala fa1i-,-.-/..,J in neNvs%1----a-wwr ire, officia.1 says By ?HIL LONG the fire accidental. Ind R!ver Bureau chief Several hours after the fire was put out, :RO BEACH — .The Indian River County someone splashed gasoline around the trying to Gr;.,d Jury is being asked to consider "evidence make an accidental fire look 1"ke a case of arson, fabrication' charges stemming from the April 27 Kuehn said. fire at the Sebastian Sun newspaper, a fire "Somebody was trying to frame a prominent inspector said Tuesday. Sebastian resident ... and that is evidence Somebody was trying to make it look like fabrication," Kuehn said. Kuehn is author of a arson," said Gunther Kuehn fire investigator for 600-page report that is going to the Indian River the South Indian River County Fire Tax District. County Grand Jury within the next few weeks. Following Kuehn's disclosure, Sebastian Police 1� Kuehn and sheriff's officials say they will seek Chief Gerald Nappi said his department will reopenI indictments. But Kuehn would not make public the its investigation of the fire. Following the lead of report which he and a deputy state fire marshal fire investigators, Nappi's department has ruled have spent the past 2t/z months compiling. Along The Coast INDIAN — RIVER ST LUCIE MARTIN l een trades After hearing about Kuehn's plans for the Indian Ricer County Grand Jury, Sebastian Police Chief Gerald Nappf said he will reopen the case "and give it top priority." The fire was discovered early Sunday April 27, Kuehn said. Charles Hill, an assistant state fire marshal, investigated the blaze that Sunday and determined that the cause was a short in an electrical box on a wall. Heat and smoke damage was extensive, Kuehn said. Several computer terminals and other publishing equipment were ruined.. Fire fighters who initially fought the blaze said they found a small can containing gasoline in a room adjoining the room where the fire was. Hill said that on the morning of the fire he ruled out the can of gasoline as having any role in the fire. Later that afternoon, Sebastian Sun staffers returned to the building to package some papers and noticed a strong smell of gasoline that had not been present earlier in the day, Sebastian Sun Editor Joan Pepper said Monday. Nappi said he was called in that evening and agreed that the smell hadn't been there that morning. Hill returned Tuesday and, took samples that revealed the presence of gp�soline. irlock ails beck-------: LONG Bureau Chief - - .....-- Thursday, August 21, 1986 ,Vero Beach, FJe'Press-Journal 7A i Kuehn Calls New Nappi Fire In'quiry'Nee %ss' By TOM NIOCZYDLOWSKI The controversy surrounding a fire to The Sebastian Sun building four months ago has spurred yet another investigation. Sebastian Police Chief Jerry Nappi has assigned two of his officers to investigate allegations uncovered by Lt. Gunter Kuehn, an aeon investigator for the South County Fire District. "I've instructed my officers to find out what is going on," said Nappi Wednesday. "I had no knowledge of some of the allega- tions Kuehn made." Nappi's new investigation is needless, according to Kuehn. "It's like a dog chasing his own tail," said Kuehn. "The Sebastian Police Depart- ment already had an investigation and closed it." Why is he (Nappi) jumping the gun without knowing who the suspects are? Our report might be to his liking." Kuehn handed over his report Wednes- day to the state attorney. That report in- cludes interviews from 95 people and five lab technicians regarding the evens that took place after The Sebastian Sun fire on April 27.. An agent of the state fire marshal, Charles Hill, assisted Kuehn with the in- vestigation. They reportedly uncovered: Fabrication of evidence to implicate a prominent Sebastian citizen. rf Criminal conspiracy by two or more people in order to mislead public officials. ,r Intimidation of an arson investiga- tor. ✓ Obstruction of justice. mismanagement on the part of a public entity. Nappi said his department's investiga- tion will center on these allegations. "The only thing I ever questioned was how the gasoline got there, which is tam- pering with evidence," said Nappi. "Kuehn never discussed these other charges with me." Nappi said he has assigned Lt. John Emrick and Cpl. Ted Zeuch to conduct the police department's investigation. Meanwhile, Kuehn is recommending that his report be brought before a grand jury and that in ictments be sought for four people on a t tat of seven charges. The identities f the suspects are beind withheld until th state attorney dec}des [chat to do kith t e repo:: Lt, said Kuehrf. Kuenn's rr:poV;ce ge that con (razors attempted to it former yor Pat Flood Jr. and imidate fir marshal Hill, accordingurce clo to the in- vestigation. Assij_tant Siornec Qe \Vi!d had "noc6pSn:er,te re rt \vednesday, other than to sas !ng reviewed. The SebasP ;ce Department, headed by s appointed officer Victor Regan, he original investiga- tion soon afterze. DEEP SEA FISHING r 4 -4 6 ` i i` ' _ / ` The simple traditional styling t j disguises the sturdy construction of this drop lid r E decorator desk. It's quality built S'MBAR ` % ' [� and constructed of wood and The Largest Party Boat ; -` wood products: The Eggshell SAILING SEBASTIAN INLET _ .� White finish adds a special Nn Fick —Noy+ T,l, _ _ ' -,, . — t ' ' e "I i e tnnrh Feahvac inr.liiria a term late May, however, Regan resigned from the force. An investigation by the state fire marshal determined the cause of the fire to The Sebastian Sun building, 8111 Fellsmere Road, to be accidental and it was traced to an electrical short. The loss was estimated at 560,000. However, gasoline was later found at the fire scene. Puddles of gasoline were found on the floor and gasoline was spilled over desks and a computer terminal, said Kuehn. On June 6, Kuehn began his investiga. tion at the request of the state attorney. The original allegation was the faabrica- tion of evidence, but more wrongdoing was found in the course of the investiga- tion, said Kuehn. information Theresa DoCapua, FLOR)DA TODAY :g, assistant supervisor of communica- ns, and Stephanie Fallon. ht in phone tangle !because of ation," he its say the jurisdiction unty. Sebas- ical deparl- olified if the 1, Maj. Roy Cliff's Office is the chief )fficer in the ave notified rus incidents cicd Nappi's ;cbastian Po - bypassed "a :allers to 011 tally ask that a Sheriff's deputy, and not local police, be sent to an emergen- cy, he said. "This, again, is just another thing the chief is doing to stir up dissension up there, to take the heat off them (Sebas- tian police)," he said. "Ice's putting up a smoke screen to discredit our investigation." Wright was unavailable tar comment Wednesday. Nappi said he has tried without success to improve cooperation between his do partmenl and the Sheriff's Of- fice. "I've tried to get along Willi the Sheriffs office;' he said. "Maybe they're too busy conducting all these investiga- tions." spatch system taken off hold ing emergency messages to 1Y the proper agency would keep the hospital's paramedics rCountyCoun- from hearing about accidents, spokeswoman Ifelen Baker Sebastian Sun i Uremay S +' spur & indictments By Daniel Horgan If FLORIDA TODAY Indictments are expected to be sought against high-ranking police and newspaper officials in connection wills the April fire at the Sebastian Sun, a source close to the investigation said. South Indian River County Fire District investigator Gunth- er Kuehn will submit his report on the fire Friday to the Stale Attorney's Office. The report will call for grand jury indictments against four unnamed people on charges of fabrication of evi- dence, criminal conspiracy, ob- struction of justice, malfeasance and misfeasance, Kuehn said. The State Attorney's Office said it expects indictments to be issued in the case. The source, who requested anonimily, said Tuesday those indicted would be high-ranking police and newspa- per officials. Ituelm began investigating in July possible evidence fabrica- tion in connection with the April 27 fire that caused about $30,000 damage to the newspaper's office on CR 512 in Sebastian. Gasoline had been splashed on computer terminals and a milk jug of flammable liquid was found in the office. A state fire marshal in Orlando ruled, however, that an electrical problem — not gaso- line — caused the fire. Allega- tions of evidence tampering first surfaced in May. Sebastian police, who first labeled the fire arson then placed the case on inactive status, rC- opened the investigation into the fire this week. Sebastian Police Chief Ger- ald Nappi said Wednesday the reports of pending charges against police officials represent an attempt to discredit him and his department. "As far is I'm concerned, thcy'ry',dealing with me and my policed titer, myself and Lt, (Dave) Pus her. They're liars. I believe that 'omebody is pulling shenanigans nd trying to discredit us," he said. The reports, No i said, e tied to a recent di green nl Willi the Indian Riv r C my Sheriff's Office over lh ar est of Sebastian Officer S Sher - brook. The officer, accused of secretly recording n Sebastian resident's conversation, pleaded not guilty in Indian River Circuit Court Tuesday to a charge of unlawful interception of oral communications. Earlier this summer, Nappi said the charge, brought by the Sheriffs Office, is politically motivated. Ile re- instated Sherbrook to the police force. "I said I'm prepared to stand up to anything they can throw at me, and I think this could be it," he s_aid. "I smell a, rat. Sebastian Sun employee John Feasel filed a formal complaint with the Sheriff's Office Wednes. day concerning evidence fab- ricaling and tampering in connection with the fire. The complaint names four "John Does' as suspects and was filed in response to Kuehn's announce- ment about evidence fabrication,l it states, Sebastian Sun Publisher Joan Pepper, commenting on the re- port of pending charges, said Wednesday that "Basically, it's a lot of trash." "The only thing that I found to be legitimate is ackowledge- ment of a criminal conspiracy. Bul 1 don't think it's the one they're referring to." T�LVJZlYII •VYlA1 .51U1/ iL•'an -porter Ellfott'Jones contributed.- i to thisstory.% Forum for candidates invo&es see education By Elliott Jones Clark said. FLORIDA TODAY School officials "have just not rnnli7ed what is happening. Kids 11 �Vla p.m. today, Monday, the council approved four city Nellie Bowen lets go of her "? departments' budgets, including a $683,000 budget for the Police Department. This ear's today n daughter's hand ^ g Y today and watches her first budget will total $2.39 million. child enter kindergarten at r4W This evening's meeting will be held at the Osceola Elementary School in y council chambers, 1225 Main St., Sebastian. Vero [leach. "I've been her mother, 1, . Council approves leacher and discipliner. Now ; x`,�._ p� I'm turning that responsibility Sebastian development over to someone else. lags so F scary. I hope they do n good , Sebnstian City Council voted 5-0 Wednes- job," Bowen said Thursday, the day to allow it developer to build a retail and eve of the first day of school in office complex on land at Chesser's Gap. Indian River County. The council agreed to Dr. henry Fischer s Bowen's daughter Jonda is request to rezone 58 acres of land from low just one of crowd of elementary density to commercial -general use. Fischer's school students filling up the company, Sebastian Genernl Partnership district's schools as fast as they're built. The district hired ➢.F.T, also wants to construct a new city police IB new teachers to instruct station on the property, according to it incoming kindergarten - proposal filed with the city. Full details of the through third -grade students. plan have not yet been submitted. Portable classrooms have been Several property owners and residents moved to Thompson Elemen- wrote letters objecting to the change, but no tary School where a large one spoke against the plan at it public hearing number of new students are held before the council's vote. Sebastian Mayor expected MOTHER'S PRIDE: Gene Harris said that the development Fischer Two more elementary kindergarten teach, proposed for the site gives the city more schools will be constructed to during registration control over development than it would have make room for all the students in Vero Beach. expected a year from now, said with assorted projects. Ronald Hudson, assistant Su- education. The land, formerly the site of Chesser's perintendent for Instruction. Jonda and al' farm, was annexed earlier thisyear. One school will be west of Vero ementary school st Beach. The second is to be In for the first time, Sebastian creates new job the Vero Highlands area, individualized ins, Sebastian CityCouncil Wednesday added "We expect this to be our using computers. Y tightest year for space." in dent will spend the job of assistant rinnnce director to its elementary schools, said Ken daily working on official list of city employees. But the council Evitt, ndministrative assistant Each school has be isn't rendy to fill thejob yct. to the superintendent. with 30 terminals. Finance Director Carol Carswell and city Despite the increase in the ets will allow stuc auditors have told the city more employees are number of students, school gress at their own needed in the overworked Finance Depart- administrators are confident providing immedis ment. Though the job description has been that students will get a quality "We're excite adopted, council members said they will wait for a report from a consultant now reviewing department operations before hiring the assis- tantdirector. Officials". Bre,vard According to the job description, the By Daniel Iforgan II vv trailers. The stic assistant director would have to have four FLORIDATODAY required to park i years' of college and at least one year of spaces at the city' professional experience. The assistant director Sebastian officials say resi- River boat ram 1x would be paid from $17,000 to $21,999. dents are finding it increasingly Kinchen, Comm \U difficult to use the city's boat man. Indian Riv ramps because ➢revard County dents would be cl r� Correction boaters are monopolizing the the proposal. �V ramps and filling up nearby Kinchen and Because of n reporter's error, Thursday's parkingspaces, tee members wa editions of FLORIDA TODAY mistaken) Recreation officials want boaters —most .. Y re- fight bock by hitting the IIrevnr- County — to go ported proceedings being taken by the State dians where it hurts — in their on the weekend Attorney's Office. The office has not said it pocketbooks. the committee I expects indictments to be issued in connection Wednesday, Sebastian's ing-slickers' piar with an April fire at the Sebastian Sun newspa- Parks and Recreation Commit- age boaters fron tee asked the City Council to ramps and get ti per. The story also incorrectly slated th :t John chnnge outof-county boam s $25 ofgoing somewh Feasel is a;tebastian Sun employee, for parking stickers foil' their One of the c 4d19 c 3. 1986 3A mVrtil'motn in fracas Wires in was irr'ured Friday after another 'woman while the a man, the Indian River cc said. 24, of ,138 1.5th St., was o Indian 3i•,er :"emorial e refused treatment for a str mach, the Sherifr s Office ✓osely's Store on a3rd Street 4:30 p.m. when she became ment with Rosa Sander: 41, Sander allegedly stabbed arguement. Sander was led with aggravated battery She remained in the Indian . Saturday night on i2,500 ay canker spread east s offici-is hope the latest 9� anhervill remain isolated *sfunding'or the eradication `\ probe evidence xamalk3c- By Daniel Horgan II FLORIDATODAY The Indian River County Sherifrs office and the State AttorP.ey's Office are irlvestigat- irg poss:b'.e evidence tampering. in connection with the April fire" that gutted the offices of the Sebastian Sun newspaper; a coun- tyfire investigator said Saturday. The investigation began last week, after the State Attorney's Office requested that another agency besides the Sebastian Police Department investigate the blaze, said Gunter Nuehn, an aeon in 'estigator with the South Indian River County Fire Dis- trict. The April 27 fire caused about S30,000 damage to the newspaper, and forced it to relocate. After the blaze. Sebas- tian pe!ice officer, found gaso- i E Evidence which was found on the fire scene —there's a question of this evidence's authenticity-5 5 line splashed on computer terminals and a plastic milk Jug containing a small amount of gasoline in the newspaper's of- fices. A window was left open, though the office is air-condi- tioned. —Gunter Kuehn, arson investigator evidence tampering Ass being looked into, but tarn'ering was never substantiated. After Hill's ruling, Sebastian police placed their investigation en inactive status. I' going to CO a follow-up State Fire Nlarhal Charles on it Xuchn said. "The;z are Hill in Orlando later ruled utdhat `come circumstances involved in the fire, which appearedtothe fire which have not been arson, was an accidental e'.ectri- ans'ered yet . Evidence cal fire that began inside a wall, which was found on the fire and was not caused by gasoline.- soene — there's a ccestion of this Sources close to Hill's i,nvesti- evidence's zutheni r,ty. ]t may (gztion said the possibility of not be authentic evidence:' ToDsv-curvy world MORE LOCAL STORIES ® Hospitals busy fielding questions from anxious caa umers over recalled ice cbars, 7A. IN Search fQr-,hallenger �ckage nears d, 7A. ® Follcv�,�pol e listi g\s in Crimewatch, B-A Fri after alre id he will try to find ed have out, among other things, how and why the gasoline was placed in the newspaper office. He has already intez`,Iewed six people, including Sebastian Sun employ- ees, and is gathering additional names of persons to be ques- tioned. The investigation should take another two weeks, he said. The current investigation began after Kuehn met on June 26 with county Sheriffs officials, Assistant State Attorney Dave .Morgan and Sebastian Police Chief Gerry Nappi. Morgan re- quested that an outside agency besides the Sebastian Police De. parinnUA investigate the fire, according to Yuehn. Morgan could not be reached Saturday. Former Sebastian police offi- cer vic Regan was the chief investigator into the newspaper blaze until he quit the force in late May. Complaints Regan filed after he resign resulted in a probe into alleged illegal tape-recording and other alleged criminal violations that h Sebastian depart. occurred to t :e �- \ ment. he be, \. Regan said Saturday lieves the fire was arson. The gasoline was already in the newspaper office when Sebastia police officers entered after t, e fire was extinguished, he said. ^Nhoever did it new what they were doing. It started ,to. the floor up, not from the electrical outlet. From the burn pattern, it would indicate arson;' Regan said. An insurance investigator from Safeco, the new'spaper's Seattle -based insurer, confis- cated electrical siring at the scene that indicated anon, and Hill never examined the wires, Regan said. Hill could not be reached Saturday. E Cast Off Heave-ho and cast your net to the water as part• return to England for the other months. Outdoor time Sebastian resident Frank Richardson is activities, particularly fishing, are how the Rich• doing. Richardson and his wife, Betty, live in Se- ardsons spend much f their (Press—tiant time. Abbott) bastian six months of the year, then they antecul I 1P R � Q " 0 � %O l= By DAVID BENESH Sebastian police in August re- opened an investigation into the fire that gutted the building of a weekly newspaper to determine whether information was withheld by a former police officer, Chief Jerry Nappi said Monday. Sebastian police last week fi.^.- ished its investigation of the April 27 Sebastian Sun fire and turned in its report to the sate attorney's office for further action. Nappi and Investigator Ted Zeuch will meet with Assistant State Attorney David Morgan today to discuss the police depart- ment's independent inquiry into the fire. Indian River County Arson In- vestigator Gunter Kuehn and State Fire Marshal Charles Hill completed its investigation in Au - guest of alleged fabrication of evi- dence after the fire and recommended that the evidence be reviewed by a grand jury for possible indictments. Sebastian police reopened its in- vestigation after Kuehn and Hill completed their inquiry that un. covered allegations and evidence police were unaware of, Nappi said. In the second investi- gation, more than 20 people were inter- viewed, Police Chief Jerry Nappi said, and the report consists of more than 40 pages. Former Sebastian police officer Victor Ragan conducted the initial investigation into the fire in April but was taken off the case when he resigned from th_a force in May. "When the fire marshal com- pleted his investigation, there were accusations made in the newspapers that we (police) had no knowledge of," Nappi said. "I assume that the statements — at- tributed to the people doing the investigaton — that we (police) were not privy to were true. "We reopened the investigation to see if the former police officer overlooked these items because none of this information was in his report," Nappi said. "We re- opened the investigation to see if that information was withheld. ,,If we weren't given all the in- formation, how could we (police) know if these improprieties existed," the police chief said. Regan could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. In the second investigation, more than 20 people were inter- viewed, Nappi said, and the repott consists of more than 40 pages. "After we discuss the report with Morgan, we should have a better idea of where we are going," Nappi said. "He (Morgan) probably will be making some kind of determination." Kuehn said his investigation will be reviewed by the state attor- ney's office along with the police investigation. I l/ J 1 VIJVL. 0 H0" St J de, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles; near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need: To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause to be invoked. Say three 'Our Fathers,' three 'Hail Marys' and 'Glorias.' Publication must be promised. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen. This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted, publication promised. MAY THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS Be praised, adored and glorified throughout the whole world forever and ever. Amen. Say this prayer 6 times a day for 9 days and your petition will be granted. No matter how difficult, don't forget to thank the Sacred Heart, and promise to publish. LMS PASTA � 5 PI'v Lunch Located U ®PAM"—TE They co= 10 DR, 13t. Wo: Easy 1 r ir y1.'�'�n.� + ..�+�x�_^�mn-.-• a%r-�A�iS.�•s.1w,,,,, !-i.A•'•u1.i ..w � �..r S ,� . ;Calm ,,Waters P'Calm waters prevail on the. Indian River In this Approxiniate enjoy smooth sailing. The warm days have been damage was re; fj. photo taken near Sebastian. The area is home to especially appealing lately. Monday to a r many* sport and commercial fishermen who : (Press -Journal —Betty Abbott) 'block of Bryant police report sai �r' • i ` • • ems • '1'tie windows construction we '.Fire �nveSt�ggtion hems Completion oe unknown pert sai a Sebastian police next week -are before making an'de�[ertt ,Lion,", torney's office. The arson invests-. ' i. • %, 0 expected to complete an investiga-. Nappi said. - gator turned his report over to the Lion Into a fire of the Sebastian Sun City police reopened the invests- state attorney's office in August . newspaper,' Police Chief Jerry gation Into the fire In August after and recommended that it be re- r :'Nappi said Wednesday. :. the law. enforcement agency wus viewed by a grand jury for possible �. 15 4_ ,,' Police are still conducting an' In- given new evidence, Nappi said. indictments. +..veatlgatiori of .the April fire that The police case was reopened Nappi said he has no detalls of If y01 .; I gutted the newspaper. They plan to after Arson feted his or Lt. Gunter. KAn n's investigation. Kuehn completedhisinvestigation � An investigation by the state fire "NEW present their findings to Assistant • involving the fabrication of evi. marshal determined the cause of • .State Attorney David Morgan next., dence that allegedly occurred after the fire to the building•to be acci-' give u ^'week, Nappl said. - the fire to the building. dental and traced to an electrical ' "Morgan told me that he Is wait- Kuehn began his Investigation In short. Gas was later found on,the . rJ J Ing to review our Investigation June at the request of the state at-, floor, desks and computers. r: a70 top administrators, creation :-level positions and better ith the community. !nt Your days studying the rative team in.April and s week. ppointed;' Burns said of the and other top administators f by the team and that the Is th�t the district be more 3 pleads to charges nen involved in a shootout at 20 pleaded not guilty to r charges Wednesday ,in t Court. 0, of 4245 26th Ave., Natha- I his brother Melvin Bryant, l7th St., are charged with ,ree murder in connection Nathaniel Bryant and two ided In the shootout that frightened residents to dash it begins Sept. 29. architect +er County School Board will g an architect to design a a and community center for state legislature set aside tional funds for a building ant to use as a community i its have contributed $20,000 id are working with county officials to get the project or 6,000-square-toot building nd near Lindsey Road. it bicyclist hree shots at a 16•yearrold 1 near Vero Beach early 's reports show. mith, 24, 4686 34th Ave., Vero �d and charged with aggra- rying a concealed firearm, possession of narcotics..He r County Jail in Vero Beach nder $3,500 bond. red at 16-yearo1d student 42nd Place, who was riding the Water Works Car Wash -ach. asting reopens . resting in south Brevard will arise today, a state Depart - sources spokesman said. Torn Cape Malabar south for spokesman said.The area closed Aug. 15., because of aid.. - Thereea DeCapua, FLORIDA TODAY TALKATIVE TWOSOME: Dispatchers for the helg, assistant supervisor of communica- Sheriff's Office are, from left, Rhonda Ris tions, and Stephanie Fallon. , Sebastian police..caught, in phone tangle By Daniel Horgan H FLORIDA TODAY When it comes to emergen- cy calls, Sebastian police feel left out Police and city officials say the Police Department is being i bypassed on emergency calls within the city by county 911 emergency network dis- patchers and the Indian River County SheriffsOffice. Sebastian Police Chief Ger- ald Nappi wrote a letter in July to County Emergency Manage- ment Director. Doug Wright complaining of , the situation and citing two examples. ' The letter said 911 dis- patchers received a re ort in retaliatory measure because of the present situation," he wrote. Sheriffs officials say the Sheriffs Office has jurisdiction over the entire county. Sebas- tian and other local depart- ments are always notified if the situation merits it, Maj. Roy Raymond of the Sheriffs Office said. "The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in the county .... We have notified them of any serious incidents up there." . Raymond labeled Nappi's contention that Sebastian po- lice are being bypassed "a bunch of bull." Callers to 911 sometimes specifically ask that a Sheriffs deputy, and not local police, be sent to an emergen- cy, he said. "This, again, is just another thing the chief is doing to stir up dissension up there, to take the neat off them (Sebas- tian police);' he said. "He's putting up a smoke screen to discredit our Investigation." Wright was unavailable for "comment Wednesday. Nappi said' he has tried. without success to improve cooperation between hi& de- partment and the Sheriffs Of- fice. "I've tried to get along' with the Sheriffs office," he said. "Maybe they're too busy conducting all these investiga- tions." - June shots being fired idea for dispatch system taken off hold hwithin ti t Sebastian city limits. The shots p % turned out to be youths break- ing into a car. The Sheriffs ByEfflottJones ing emergency messages to Office sent a unit to the scene, ' FLORiDA TODAY the proper agency would keep but Sebastian police were not the hospital's paramedics called, though they were mo- ments away, the letter said. Indian River County Coun- ty from hearing about accidents, spokeswoman Helen Baker In a second incident, a ty officials are talking about establishing a centralized dis- told county commissioners. Sebastian business woman patch system so emergency Sheriff Tim Dobeck is also called 911 last month and asked personnel can be sent where concerned. "Things are frag- for Sebastian police to check on they are needed. ments now and it is only a children playing with fire in a matter of time before we are field next to her property. Commissioners tenta- faced with lawsuits because of Though she called 911 twice, no tively agreed Wednesday to a human error," he said. one ever responded to the call, plan centralized dispatching Centralized dispatching, the letter said. for all emergency agencies also would free up South "They never notified us," except Sebastian and Vero Beach police. The two agen- Indian River County Fire Dis- Nappi said. He learned. of the ties would have their own trict firefighters, who now do Incident after the woman dispatching system. dispatching during most of the asked him why Sebastian po- day. lice hadn't responded, he said.. Under the current system, County officials are trying Sebastian Mayor Gene a Sebastian resident calling to pin down the cost of the - Harris has called for better 911 to report a fire would proposed system. A bond issue cooperation between the two reach a sheriffs dispatcher in and a new 911 phone tax may law enforcement agancies. • Vero Beach. The dispatcher be used to pay for the system. ' The Sheriffs Office is switches calls to the South The 911 tax of 50 cents -a - looking into allegations of wire- Indian River County Fire Dis• month per phone is expected tapping and other criminal trict, which in turn calls fire to bring in $396,000 over the violations in the Sebastian po- departments in the north next 18 months. , lice department The jurisdic- county, said south county Fire Chief John Allen:, Dobeck wants the new tional dispute, Nappi says, .: dispatching system'going by could be tied to the investiga- - The system worries offs- early 1986. Plans eventually tion, which he has blasted as cials at Indian River Memori- call for the system to be put in politically motivated. al Hospital in Vero Beach. the central sheriffs building "It's a recurring problem, They wonder whether the to be built northwest of Vero I hope this neglect is not a complicated system of relay- Beach. i; i