DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE THREW MOLOTOV COCKTAILS AT EMS FACILITIES, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE SAY
March 1 2021, Updated 12:09 p.m. ET
An employee from an ambulance agency in Connecticut is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at two EMS facilities, a volunteer fire department and a home, police say.
Richard White, 37, was involved in a fight with another employee at Hunters Ambulance in Meriden, Connecticut, according to Meriden police. The Feb. 27 fight came after a disciplinary hearing where White was put on administrative leave.
Police did not release details about why White was disciplined.
Hours later, police arrived at a different ambulance base nearby after White started a fire using a makeshift Molotov cocktail, according to police.
Then an hour later, White started another fire at another ambulance station. This time he threw a Molotov cocktail out the window of a car and hit the side of the building, police say. The car then fled the scene.
Then, White allegedly drove to Roxbury, where he intentionally set fire to an ambulance inside a fire department.
In the final attack, White allegedly set fire to a private residence. Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera told WTNH-TV that police believe the residence was White’s childhood home.
“At this time, all we can tell you is that the residence, there was a connection to the suspect from that residence,” said Sgt. Paul Makuc. “And so, we believe that residence was specifically targeted as was the firehouse and as were the other facilities in Meriden and Old Saybrook.”
No one was injured in the attacks, but police are still assessing the damage at all four scenes, according to WTNH-TV. Police say there’s a great deal of smoke damage at the Roxbury firehouse.
"This individual has targeted those who we count on to save lives," Spera said in a statement to ABC News. “Our Officers have worked diligently all evening obtaining both search and arrest warrants in an effort to quickly stop these violent attacks against public safety and cause the suspect to be taken into custody."
White was arrested on Saturday in Pennsylvania and is charged with third-degree arson and third-degree burglary. Additional charges are being filed in the case.
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