On May 12 of 2008 my car was destroyed by an arsonist at around 3:30 AM. An attempt was made to set fire to my father's house while he slept inside. I knew this was a case of arson-for-hire and I told the police who was responsible. The person I named was never interviewed by the police.
A distinctive cap was dropped at the scene and I turned it over to the detective assigned to the case. After a year went by I contacted the CID by letter, email and telephone asking that they send me a picture of the cap so that I could show it to people who might recognize it. I was ignored until I asked then mayor Bill Knight for assistance. Soon thereafter I was contacted by Detective K.A. Davis who said I would be receiving a photograph of the cap in the mail. The next day I received a photo of a filthy cap having no resemblance whatever to the cap dropped at the scene of the crime. The original cap is missing and the officer who oversees the evidence room on Swing Road has said that the cap that was photographed was the one I turned in. This is a bald-faced lie and I stand ready at any time to take a polygraph exam regarding this narrative.
What happened in this instance is an example of how the police retaliate when you make them look bad or criticize their performance. Someone has gotten away with an attempted first degree arson. In my view the police have helped them get away with it. I am offering a $5000 reward for information about this case. For details see my page on Myspace.com. Van Barnette.
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