Small Town News

Arson attack snuffed out

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An Alaska man was put in jail accused of domestic terrorism and attempted arson after detectives from the Camp Verde Marshal's Office interrupted his alleged plan to burn down two law enforcement offices, a judge's house and a restaurant, CVMO reported.

William Allen Erickson purchased gas tanks and a flare gun to set fire to the Camp Verde Marshal's Office, the Department of Public Safety office on Finnie Flat Road, the Montezuma Inn, a restaurant on Main Street popular with law enforcement officers, and the Clarkdale home of Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Michael Bluff, CVMO investigators allege.

The plan was thwarted after an unidentified informant tipped off authorities, who arrested Erickson on Aug. 17, the day before he planned to carry out the attacks.

Erickson denies all of the allegations, CVMO reported.

Erickson apparently wanted to take revenge for an earlier arrest when he was cited for disorderly conduct and domestic violence, CVMO reported. The suspect allegedly hit a Camp Verde woman in the mouth July 14 and scratched her neck, causing $800 worth of damage to her furniture and tossing it into the yard of the house where he was staying.

Before he could be formally charged with domestic violence, Erickson left town for Alaska, but then returned to Camp Verde around Aug. 10, according to CVMO. After his return, Erickson allegedly told an acquaintance he couldn't stay in the area for very long and would have to hide. He repeatedly and angrily threatened to kill law enforcement officers, CVMO reported.

The plan was to be put into action Aug. 18, the day of the Montezuma Inn's Taco Tuesday special. Erickson, who took up residence in Camp Verde starting in February, allegedly knew Taco Tuesday was popular with local law enforcement officers because he once paid $100 there to buy tacos for several CVMO and DPS officers, CVMO reported.

Erickson allegedly told an acquaintance he would approach the Montezuma Inn from the back, pour gas on the building and then set it afire with a flare gun, following the same scenario at the CVMO and DPS offices and Bluff's house.

Following the attacks, Erickson apparently planned to leave town hauling a trailer he allegedly stole from a Camp Verde rental center on Aug. 17. CVMO detectives confirmed a U-Haul trailer was reported stolen from Camp Verde Automotive Aug. 17.

Erickson then allegedly planned to drive the trailer to Nevada, store it there, then fly back to Alaska.

A shopping list provided to detectives prior to Erickson's arrest allegedly showed he wanted to buy two pistols and a rifle, each fitted with scopes and laser sites, along with two boxes of ammunition, before leaving the state.

During a jail interview with CVMO investigators Aug. 17, Erickson claimed an officer who responded to the July 14 domestic violence incident beat him during the arrest.

Shortly after the July 14 arrest, but before he was formally charged, Erickson apparently attempted to obtain an injunction against the officer in Verde Valley Justice Court. The presiding judge there told Erickson he could only obtain such an injunction from the Yavapai County Superior Court.

At Yavapai County Superior Court, Bluff denied Erickson's request. The ruling greatly upset the suspect, Bluff reported. According to the judge, when Erickson left his courtroom, "it was scary," CVMO reported.'

During the Aug. 17 interview, Erickson allegedly told a strange tale in which he claimed he was driving to the Yavapai Superior Court to request the injunction when he was chased off State Route 260 by 40 police officers, escaping capture by driving across the desert. CVMO investigators found no record of such an incident.

Erickson also told investigators he had no intention to burn any buildings, denied he was a terrorist, and claimed he did not engage in domestic violence on July 14.

He said he purchased the gas tanks for an upcoming trip, CVMO reported.

A shopping list provided to detectives prior to Erickson's arrest allegedly showed he wanted to buy two pistols and a rifle, each fitted with scopes and laser sites, along with two boxes of ammunition, before leaving the state.



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© 2009 Sedona Red Rock News Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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