Information sought in Tulsa business fires

By Larry Levy

Published: September 18, 2008

TULSA — Rewards for information about arsons at two Tulsa businesses in August were raised Wednesday from $1,000 to $6,000 each.

Capt. Mike Baker, spokesman for the Tulsa Fire Department, said there are different suspects for the arsons at 6:30 a.m. Aug. 21 at Name Brand Clothing and at 11 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Diamond & Jewelry Buyers pawn shop.

The fires were in east Tulsa, about 2½ miles apart.

Baker said both structures were occupied during the fires. In addition to the fires endangering lives of the occupants, they required about 28 firefighters to extinguish them.

At Name Brand Clothing, videos show the arsonists crawling around the store, trying to stay out of sight of the cameras for about six hours, most of the time trying to open a safe, which was unlocked and empty.

Baker said it's believed the arsonist hid inside the store until it closed, then ignited a rack of clothing near the front entrance after a maintenance man entered the store that morning.

Store manager Brent Dalley said damage was $15,000 to $20,000, but it was "kind of creepy to find out someone was crawling around the store” all night.

It has been three weeks since fire forced closure of Diamond & Jewelry Buyers, said Dan Wiley, owner of the pawn shop. He hopes to reopen within a month.

Damage estimates run from $279,000 to $290,000 — $120,000 of which was to the building, $20,000 to property belonging to others and $139,000 to $150,000 for his own property, Wiley said.

Not everything was saved.

Not all of it was insured, just his own items and items in the safe.

Baker said a person had camped out overnight in the adjoining business, which was being refurbished.

A video showed that arsonist had been driving a red Chrysler PT Cruiser, Baker said.

The standard reward from the Tulsa Crime Commission for tips leading to an arrest and conviction is $1,000, with each company adding $5,000.

Baker said the maximum punishment for first-degree arson is 35 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Comments