Blotter: Investigation of possible arson follows burglaries

A mobile home fire in the 6600 block of Grissom Road that began at about 1 p.m. Tuesday is being investigated as possible arson, Denton County sheriff's Investigator Roger Griggs confirmed Wednesday.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 1:06 p.m. about the fire. They dispatched firefighters and a sheriff's deputy when the homeowner reported that he believed the home was burglarized before the fire broke out, Griggs said.

A deputy had been working the homeowner's case prior to Tuesday's fire because there had been reports of four previous burglaries at the residence, Griggs said.

According to the deputy's report, the homeowner suspected that someone had removed items from his home prior to the fire because his dog was found running in the neighborhood. But the homeowner could not enter the home to determine what was missing.

An arson dog was dispatched to the scene at 3:06 p.m., Griggs said. The deputy reported that a window screen from the home was found near the tree line on the north side of the residence.

The fire marshal's and sheriff's offices are investigating, Griggs said.

Other reports

200 block of Willet Court, Paloma Creek area - A woman called the sheriff's office Wednesday to report that her diamond jewelry was missing. She told a deputy she opened her jewelry box the day before and noticed a pair of earrings, a necklace and a bracelet worth more than $2,000 were missing, according to the deputy's report. Because she has not had any friends or relatives in the house, she believes someone from a carpet cleaning business took the jewelry. She was home Dec. 29 when they did the work but did not "stand over" them, she told the deputy.

6500 block of West FM455, Sanger area - The owner of a gas station called the sheriff's office to report a drive-off that happened Dec. 8. The gas station owner had identified the license plate and contacted the vehicle owner with evidence of the drive-off. The man paid the $72.60 bill for about 22 gallons because he thought one of his employees had taken the gas. The man contacted the gas station owner Monday, after seeing that the license plate was on a blue pickup, while he owns a newer, silver pickup, according to a sheriff's report. The gas station owner refunded the man's money, and told a sheriff's deputy that she thought someone was using an altered license plate.

3900 block of Pockrus Page Road, Denton - After leaving a domestic disturbance call, a Denton police officer spotted two men walking in an area where businesses had been burglarized recently. The officer stopped the men and told them they weren't in trouble, but asked if they were OK. The men kept changing their stories about where they were going and who was meeting them, according to a police report. The officer called for backup and checked to see whether they had outstanding warrants. He also searched both men and found $2, several pawn tickets, a flashlight and a wrench, according to the report.

The officer realized someone had been watching them from the railroad tracks, and when he shone his light on them, he saw one man hide. Another officer went after two men but was unable to catch them, according to that officer's supplemental report.

Meanwhile, the first officer went with the other two men to locate their car, which was parked in front of an empty mobile home across the railroad tracks. The officer found wire cutters and other tools in the car, according to the report. The officer found more tools on the ground where he originally detained the men - about 10 feet from the fence around an RV lot. According to the officer's report, a hole had been cut into the fence big enough for a person to crawl through. The owner of the RV lot reported that one unit had been pried upon. Officers arrested the two men and charged them with burglary of a building.

Roundup

Between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday:

Denton police handled 320 service and officer-initiated calls.

Denton County sheriff's dispatchers handled 620 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. A total of 34 people were booked into county jail.

Denton firefighters responded to 36 calls, including 17 medical calls, two building fires, one rescue, one accident with injuries, one smoke removal and four police or public-service calls.

Argyle firefighters responded to one medical call.

Aubrey firefighters responded to two medical calls.

Krum firefighters responded to one medical call.

Lake Cities firefighters responded to three medical calls and one traffic incident.

Oak Point firefighters responded to one medical call.

Ponder firefighters responded to one medical call.

Pilot Point firefighters responded to one medical call.

Sanger firefighters responded to three medical calls.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.