Reward Offered For Suspected Arson Fire

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--Police and Fire officials are offering up to a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person who is suspected of setting a fire to Travis Cycle and Game's On Apparel early Monday Jan. 3.
“Anyone who saw or heard something the night of the fire, or since, is encouraged to call the Arson Hotline," said state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, whose office is investigating the matter with Brockton Police and Fire.
Brockton Police are also asking administrators at the junior high school and high school to inform students during morning announcements about the reward in the hopes some of the students may have heard something about who might have set the fire since many youngsters had layaways at Travis Cycle--a popular bike shop that has serviced the community for about 20 years.
Police said owners of Travis Cycle and Game's On Apparel are not suspected in the fire.
The Arson Watch Reward Program provides rewards of UP TO $5,000 that helps to solve the crime of arson and is funded by the property and casualty insurance underwriting companies of Massachusetts.
The hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-682-9229 and is completely confidential.
The Arson Watch Reward Program recently provided a reward to a woman who helped to convict Chiteara M. Thomas of first-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Olinda Calderon who died in a horrific fire at 779 Montello Street on July 6, 2006.
It is believed this is the first time in Massachusetts a first-degree murder conviction was obtained in an arson fire.