Flare Gun Arsonists Apprehended

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

On the night of April 1, a maroon Chevy Impala was reported stolen from the east side of Longmont.

Later, during the early morning hours of April 2, a vehicle meeting this description was reported to being used in a series of arson cases.

Those cases began around 5:30 a.m. when the car pulled up in front of the King Soopers on N. Main St., Longmont. A flare was fired from an occupant inside the vehicle and the car immediately fled. No injuries were reported.

Around 5:35 a.m. a car pulled up in front of a private residence located on Pratt St. Again an flare was fired from an occupant in the car. The flare landed inside the house causing a small amount of damage but no injuries to any occupants.

Within the next half hour, a flare was fired into a field on Airport Road causing a small fire. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Longmont Police located the stolen vehicle around 9:30 a.m. in the NW part of Longmont. They located the flare gun used in all three cases inside the stolen vehicle.

According to a press release from the Longmont Police Department, "Based on early information gathered by officers, two males were identified as suspects. Officers and detectives teamed up, located, and arrested four juvenile males ages 13 and 14. Subsequently, four males were taken into
custody by Longmont Police."

Charges in this case have yet to be determined, however, it is expected that various charges will soon be filed. Depending on what those charges are, any or all of the males involved in the incident may be taken to the Boulder County Juvenile Detention Center.