NWCN is carrying the live press conference on the Greenwood arson investigation by the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. KING 5 is also streaming it live. It was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., but started about 10 minutes late.
I’m posting live updates below.
1:40 p.m.: Seattle Police Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer: “This will be a real unusual press conference in that there’s not a whole lot we can tell you.” They don’t want to jeopardize the successful prosecution of the suspect.
“This crime spree has struck such fear in the hearts of decent citizens in this city and in the Greenwood neighborhood.”
Seattle Fire Department Asst. Chief. A.D. Vickery: “We can’t thank the Greenwood community enough for their active involvement and participation.”
Asst. Chief A.D. Vickery: The last six Seattle firefighters killed in the line of duty were killed by an arsonist. “That’s why this is a personal matter for us in the fire service and why we understand the fear in our community.”
Asst. Chief A.D. Vickery: “We’re exceptionally happy that there has been a break in this case. And I want to reiterate that break is because of citizen involvement, it’s because of your police and fire departments and federal agencies.”
Arson patrols will continue while investigation is active. There is a sense of relief, but don’t let your guard down.
Kelvin Crenshaw of ATF: “Every time he strikes that match it leaves human lives hanging in the balance.”
Crenshaw says there have been 68 arsons in the Greenwood area in last two years; 17 in last two months. But they can’t say yet how many of those Swalwell is responsible for. “Hopefully we’ve reached the end of the road in arson fires in the Greenwood area.”
Seattle Police Department Asst. Chief Paul McDonagh: “This case is active and ongoing.”
Early this morning, members of the Greenwood Arson Task Force were enroute to the Shoreline fire when they saw a person of interest. They radioed that to Seattle Police, who detained the man for questioning. “This person has been seen in the vicinity of three other set fires.”
During questioning at police headquarters, he provided information that led detectives to believe he was involved in the Greenwood arsons.
Kevin Todd Swalwell, 46, was subsequently booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of arson.
A second person of interest was detained late this morning, identified, questioned and then released.
“The detectives believe that Swalwell is responsible for some if not all of the Greenwood arsons.”
“These conclusions are based on eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and information from the subject.”
Seattle Police working with King County Prosecutors Office to file charges as soon as possible. SPD is asking for more information to be called into the arson tipline - 1-800-55-ARSON. “The tipline was a factor in identifying the person of interest.”
“Our patrols will continue to ensure the community’s safety.”
“We have no reason to believe at this point that there will be a copycat.”
Police say they don’t have any idea of a motive yet, and they can’t release any more information because they don’t want to jeopardize the investigation.
Asst. Chief A.D. Vickery reminds everyone that whether a fire is intentionally set or accidental, the results can be the same. Make sure you have a working smoke detector, clean up any debris near your home or business, have an escape plan. “These are all very practical things that you and I and our community…can do every day to protect ourselves from fire.”
17 responses so far ↓
1 Penny // Nov 13, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Just watched it as well. Great recap.
2 Iron City Mike // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hope they lock this guy up for life this time.
3 etta // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Wow, great to read this. Thanks for the good news, for a change!
4 Graham // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Thank god for Phinneywood. At work now so can’t watch, but continuously refreshing for all the updates!
“Forensic evidence”
-We knew we was getting off on setting the fires but was he getting off on setting the fires?
5 Womble // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Heck YES!. Awesome news
6 Neighbor // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Innocent until proven guilty.
Then again, if the suspect is indeed found guilty on these charges, how long of a sentence will the suspect receive? It’s frightening to know that the possibility exists for an offender to be caught, do time and strike again with greater terroristic fury.
7 Cedar // Nov 13, 2009 at 2:29 pm
If it is the guy, I hope he gets shivved in prison.
8 HL // Nov 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Does anyone remember seeing this guy at the arson meeting on Tuesday night at the church?
9 Alysse // Nov 13, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Pretty sure I’ve seen him around, but I wasn’t at the meeting on Tuesday, so not there. But his face looks really familiar.
I hope he is the one. If he did it, can he be locked up for a very long time. I hope there aren’t copycat types out there.
The other night my elder neighbor was telling me there are other, longer unsolved fires in the area too. The one she mentioned was some apartments on Phinney that burned down while they weren’t finished building.
10 Jamps // Nov 13, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Don’t we have a “3 strikes” law in our state? If convicted, wouldn’t that be his 3rd time? I hope they put him away for good….
11 Lexicon Grrl // Nov 13, 2009 at 5:38 pm
There’s a link to the probable cause documents in his arrest, from the Kin5 website:
http://images.bimedia.net/documents/Swalwell+Probable+Cause+Documents1.pdf
The documents state that he admitted to the fires to police, and specifies what the forensic evidence was - a print on a can of lighter fluid that was left at the scene of one of the fires. Like the rest of us, I’m also “cautiously optimistic” that he’s not a nutcase or a copycat and that this will mean the end of it.
12 Rain // Nov 13, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I’m new to the blog but how could it be we’ve had 68 arsons in two years and only in the last two months has it been significant to pay attention? Or is 68 a norm for a neighborhood and the 17 in two months isn’t????
13 happymomma // Nov 13, 2009 at 9:12 pm
So the first guy who spoke at the meeting may have known what was really going on. I don’t think the suspect was at the meeting or was reading the blog. I think he’s mentally ill and can’t stop starting the fires. I think this is really a tragic story. But I do hope we can build on the great community spirit we built. I’m proud to be part of this community, Greenwoodies!
14 BallardMum // Nov 14, 2009 at 12:50 am
Just a theory here, but I had the feeling he was out to be caught and now it makes more sense to me. He’s been in prison for 12 of the last 26 years, a transient whose mailing address is the Ballard Food Bank, a “three strikes and you’re out” mandatory life sentence… Perhaps, for him, life imprisonment (or even in a mental institution) is just a more comfortable, more predictable existence than life on the street??
15 R // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:24 am
Lexicon Girl, please see (http://www.phinneywood.com/2009/11/13/arson-suspect-admits-to-several-fires/#comment-10948).
16 Lexicon Grrl // Nov 14, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Yeah, um… please note that my comment was posted before that later article with the update was online. But thanks for pointing that out (?)
17 R // Nov 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
Lexi…
I was aiming for a new link to the Statement Of Probable Cause.
Now we have one… (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/11/13/2010271218.pdf)
Thanks.
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