Copyright 2006 York Newspapers, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
By ELIZABETH EVANS and HEIDI BERNHARD-BUBB
The York Dispatch (Pennsylvania)
Friday’s arrest of a drifter police called a “textbook arsonist” closes the case for police on 25 of the city’s more than 50 recent arsons, but two late-night fires served to remind officials that at least one arsonist is still on the loose.
York City’s police and firefighters were dispatched to the 400 block of South Albemarle Street shortly after 11 o’clock last night, where they found a car engulfed in flames along the railroad tracks about 100 feet from the road.
The plum or maroon four-door Chevrolet was destroyed by the fire; investigators were unable to determine who owns it, police said.
About 90 minutes later, emergency crews were called to a small fire at 697 E. Philadelphia St., where firefighters found a pile of burning paper and cardboard on the first floor of a vacant home, according to police.
Police said the front and back doors of the home were locked, but the basement door was unlocked.
The fire was quickly extinguished, and damage was limited to the floor and wall of the room where the fire was set, police said.
A string of more than 50 arsons of homes,
porches, garages, trash piles and Dumpsters has gone on since March.
Arrest doesn’t end it: Police arrested a 44-year-old homeless man, Michael Paul Zunich Jr., Friday and said he confessed to committing 25 of those arsons, mostly in March and April.
According to police, Zunich set fires in the areas of York College, the city’s downtown and around Company Street.
He has an arson conviction in 1996 for setting a fire in York City, according to court records.
Police started investigating Zunich after an anonymous tipster alerted police that Zunich was bragging about starting the fires, according to Lt. Ron Camacho, who supervises the detective bureau.
“From what the investigators are telling me, this is a textbook arsonist, which is rare,” he said. "(Citizens) should be relieved. We are.”
However, Camacho acknowledged that detectives still believe the fires were set by various arsonists working independently.
Anyone with information about the arsons is urged to call York City Police at 846-1234, or the department’s anonymous crime tip line, 849-2204. Or call York County Crime Stoppers at 755-TIPS. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential, and callers don’t have to give their names to collect cash rewards.
York City has also set up an e-mail address to make it easier for residents to report issues related to the recent rash of fires in the city. Send e-mails to stopfires@yorkcity.org to report possible fire hazards or suspicious activity to police.
A local business, insurance agent and crime-fighting agency are offering rewards for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists.
Local business KND Properties LLC is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists, while State Farm Insurance agent Steve Horning has pledged $500 and York County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000.
Although the tipster who turned in Zunich wanted to remain anonymous, that person can call police back about claiming the rewards, Camacho said.