Update 12:25 p.m.: The Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are holding a press conference on the Greenwood arson investigation at 1:30 p.m. today. NWCN will carry that press conference live, and KING 5.com will stream it live. We will bring you information from that press conference as it happens.
Update 11:20 a.m.: The Seattle Times is reporting the suspect arrested early this morning in connection with the string of Greenwood arsons is Kevin Todd Swalwell, and a second person of interest was arrested about 11 a.m. today. According to the King County Jail Register, Swalwell, age 46, was booked this morning on investigation of arson. The Times reports Swalwell has an extensive criminal history, including two felony arson convictions.
A 1995 Seattle Times story details Swalwell’s 1995 arson arrest. (Thanks, Vince, for the tip to that link!)
See story of this morning’s Shoreline arson, where Swalwell was arrested, below.
20 responses so far ↓
1 Ghoul // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:37 am
this keeps looking better!
keep up the good work SPD!
2 jm // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:39 am
The Washington courts web site shows 38 court dates for a person with that name. One as recent as Nov. 2,2009. Not a nice fellow.
3 jm // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:45 am
Arrested in 1995:
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950803&slug=2134743
4 Elly // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:52 am
He had a Shoreline district court proceeding on 10/22/09 at 8:45AM, the day before the fires picked up again. I can’t figure out what for or if he was for sure in jail before that, but that seems like awfully interesting timing.
5 Ghoul // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:58 am
this is his record from
http://web1.seattle.gov/courts/cpi/
CRIMINAL TRESPASS - 1ST DEGREE (BUILDING)
THEFT
LICENSE, DRIVER, POSSESSION
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES DISPLAYED
LICENSE, DRIVER, POSSESSION
EXPIRED LICENSE PLATES (OVER 2 MONTHS)
LIGHTS, TAIL, DEFECTIVE
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE
TURNS, U
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE
NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE
NO VALID DRIVERS LICENSE
MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE
THEFT
SHOPLIFT
6 MR // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:06 pm
KIRO has a photo of the suspect here:
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21605268/detail.html
7 Ghoul // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:07 pm
ontop of his other criminal records, here is a couple driving and various other tickets…
according to
http://web1.seattle.gov/courts/cpi/
he has had 6 “No Insurance tickets”, 7 “not valid drivers license tickets, 2 possessions while getting cited for bad driving, 7 other various car infractions (lights, no license plate etc..), 1 theft, 1 trespass, 1 shoplift and a partridge in a pear tree..
forget the danger of him “walking the streets”.
fear him “driving the streets”
8 Christophe // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Ahh, but Ghoul, he was welcomed at the Ballard Food Bank. Who would have thought importing vagrants from all over Seattle would have a negative impact on the area?
9 Ghoul // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:26 pm
^
almost a 50 year old starting fires…
what a loser.
10 Anon // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Can you say “Three strikes, you’re out”?
[i.e. convictions in '83, '85, and maybe '09]
11 joe // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:38 pm
New story at KIRO shows picture of the suspect: http://www.kirotv.com/news/21605268/detail.html#
12 Jonni // Nov 13, 2009 at 1:12 pm
My father was wrongfully convicted of arson for his own home in 1983 at the age of 19. On Wednesday night, after 26 years of a perfectly clean record, he was arrested and is currently being held due to these fires because he was charged with arson back then. My father is an upstanding citizen, a dedicated community member, has volunteered for several good causes and also has a three year old son and wife at home. He also currently has the N1H1 virus, a serious kidney illness and sky high blood pressure and he is sitting in RJC. I understand this is a serious issue and they must catch the criminal, however I think it is a little extreme to just go out and round up previous “arsons” and just throw them in jail. I had previously read a comment about not turning this into a witch hunt, which it appears has happened. I can’t express the damage this has done to our family and his career. I hope they will set him free after arresting the latest suspect.
13 Patrick // Nov 13, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I can’t get the stream to work (from nwcn or king5). Is it working for others? This might be a port block at my work…
14 jm // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Jonni- Interesting. So what is his connection to Greenwood?
15 Jamps // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I’m assuming @Jonni was speaking of the 2nd person of interest, who was later released….
16 Rob Fellows // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:14 pm
@Jonni, I sympathize. It’s hard enough to deal with being wrongly accused, and then to have it come back to bite again adds insult to injury.
On the other hand, I was shocked to read of the previous arson history of suspect #1 - the most interesting part of the 1995 article on his arsons was the reference to previous arson history in 1988. So I can understand a little bit why the police department might want to round up people with a history! Yikes!
17 LB // Nov 13, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Hope he is the guy…I still won’t sleep well.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33911242/ns/local_news-seattle_wa/#storyContinued
18 LB // Nov 13, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Forgot to mention what the link was about. Swalwell admitted to some of the arsons.
19 R // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:23 am
Jonni, please see (http://www.phinneywood.com/2009/11/13/arson-suspect-admits-to-several-fires/#comment-10948).
20 Yeah // Nov 16, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Jonni- Ted Bundy was a well respected citizen also. Your dad has a horrendous temper and goes off for no reason. In addition, I find it interesting that he was arrested and convicted in 1983 at the age 0f 19 in connection with a house fire and that Swalwell was ALSO arrested in 1983 at the age of 19 for arson at the home of an “acquaintance” and admitted the fire was to cover up burglary. A high school buddy perhaps? Is that when your Dad moved abroad?
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