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Angry Mobs Concern Police After 'Wildfire' Arrest

POSTED: Thursday, May 15, 2008
UPDATED: 11:07 am EDT May 16, 2008

Sheriff's deputies tightened security at the Brevard County Jail early Thursday because of the potential of an angry crowd showing up and "mobbing" a man being questioned about several home-destroying fires.


LISTEN: 911 Call
IMAGES: Crowder Taken Into Custody
RELATED: Crowder Guarded After Bounty Offered
IMAGES: Wanted: Dead Or Alive

Brian Crowder, 31, will be charged with one count of unlawful burning of land for a brush fire that was started Wednesday and will be charged with another count of unlawful burning of land after he tried to light fires while fleeing police during a chase, police said.

Early Thursday, deputies did not allow people to park near the entrance of the Brevard County Jail because of the potential of citizens coming and potentially mobbing Crowder while being escorted by officers.

The security comes after some homeowners expressed anger after hearing that one person may be responsible for a majority of 12 Palm Bay fires.

Good Samaritan Matt Samaco said he wanted to get a hold of Crowder after seeing him allegedly trying to start a fire and choke him out.

"I wanted to do what everyone else in Palm Bay wanted to do and put him down," Samaco said. It's a good thing that (police) caught him and I didn't. Let's leave it at that."

Also, "Dead-Or-Alive" posters appeared around the city offering a bounty for the arsonist who sparked the wildfires that destroyed 22 homes.

The reward posters read, "Wanted: Palm Bay/Malabar Arsonist, May 11 and 12."

There is a reward offered for the person dead or alive -- no questions asked.

Mom's Call Leads To Arrest

Meanwhile, a woman and her son are being credited with initiating the police manhunt that led to Crowder's capture.

The woman made the 911 call at 4:18 a.m. Wednesday.

"On the Internet and my 19-year-old son was getting ready to take the trash out," a caller told a 911 dispatcher. "He says he saw a black car go down our street or something and throw something in the woods, catching the woods on fire by our house."

"Your son saw this?" a 911 dispatcher said.

"I see it. I see it. You see orange right here in the middle. We're on Alvarado Avenue," the woman said.

After the call, Good Samaritan Matt Samaco also spotted the man police identified as Crowder starting a fire near his property.

"I saw (the man) and he was squatted down by the sign and he had a long wire and was trying to light a fire," Samaco said. "That's when I said, 'Hey, S.O.B.' He then got up and hauled butt. I kicked my gate open and chased him up through his woods."

Police with K-9s eventually captured Crowder near Southwest Middle School, located at 451 Eldron Blvd. S.E.

Crowder was taken into custody by police but was transported to Palm Bay Community Hospital with bite wounds from a K-9.

Crowder was arrested for six violations of probation warrants. Officers said they were investigating any links to at least 11 other suspected arsons this week.

Police said more than 60 officers and a helicopter were involved in Wednesday's search.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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