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Last updated 10:08 am CT February 09, 2010.
Johnston City Arson Investigation Continues
Police call those fires in June and July arson but they have yet to make an arrest.
Public Safety Director Ray Mileur admits it could be months or years before they do.
But investigators believe there may be clues under all the rubble. Thursday a backhoe combed through the debris.
"It's just part of an ongoing investigation and we need to return to the crime scene and look for some things that we didn't have an opportunity to look for before," Mileur said.
The crew tried to get to the basement of the building.
Any information will help.
“We're usually not sure what we're looking for until we actually find it,” Mileur said. “There's so many variables involved particularly in an arson case which is very difficult to investigate."
Crews were on the scene of the fire on July 31 for seven hours. Part of the building they searched Thursday collapsed that morning.
Mayor Ryan Horn called the fire on June 14 the biggest in Johnston City history.
Both were ruled arson almost immediately.
"The fires have really not only traumatized the community, but it's been a hardship also to look at every day across the street,” said business owner Lani Perry.
Perry’s consignment shop is located in a building that’s kept up, but others downtown are in bad shape. Many have broken windows. One has vines growing through the display area.
Mileur says buildings like that are prime target for criminals, so he plans to step up code enforcement.
"We need to get stuff like that repaired so that we keep kids out of there and we don't make it easier for people to come in and commit crimes and commit arson," he said.
"I really think it would keep out a lot of criminal activity
that might be going on," Perry said.
Mileur says officershave also increased patrols in the downtown area.
By Dana Jay
djay@wsiltv.com
Now: 1265734081
