DETROIT (WXYZ) — A former Detroit firefighter has been charged after prosecutors allege that he committed arson five different times in the past month, and stole personal items from other firefighters.
Prosecutors say that Eric Anderson, 52, intentionally set six fires between July 10 and August 4. We're told that no one was injured in the fires. Here's more details on each of those fires, in chronological order:
- Friday, July 10 — Investigators say that before 7 a.m., Anderson forced entry into a home 8500 block of Bryden Street and stole a refrigerator, stove, and two pitbull puppies. Police say he returned to the home and set fire to it 45 minutes later.
- Wednesday, July 15 — Police say that just after 6:30 a.m., Anderson set fire to a garage in the 8500 block of Central Street and then, 45 minutes later, set fire to a commercial dumpster located in front of a home in the 8300 block of Bryden Street
- Wednesday, July 29 — Authorities tell us Anderson set fire in the 8500 block of Bryden Street just before 5 a.m. While firefighters fought that fire, Anderson went to the fire house at 6300 block of West Chicago and stole multiple personal items of the firefighters at the scene.
- Wednesday, August 4 — Officials say that just before 6:30 a.m., Anderson set fire to a home in the 8500 block of Roselawn and fled the scene.
Anderson has been charged with five counts of arson of various degrees. He was also charged with Larceny in connection to theft at the fire house. He's been given $500,000 cash surety and a GPS Tether, and is set to appear back in court two more times later this month.
“We have all heard stories about of firefighter firebugs. Luckily, this is a small number of firefighters, but these stories are indeed hard to wrap our brains around. Unfortunately, it happens and it shocks the conscience. The alleged criminal actions of this former firefighter are horrifying. We will do everything in our power under the law to hold him fully accountable,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a press release.
Below is a statement from Detroit Fire Commissioner Charles Simms:
“I want to thank the Detroit Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Division for their tireless work on this case. For weeks, our investigators have worked diligently to identify the person responsible for a string of arson fires on Detroit’s West Side, carefully following the evidence and pursuing every lead. I also want to thank Kym Worthy and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for their partnership in bringing this case forward.
“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing, particularly because they involve a former member of the Detroit Fire Department and an alleged theft from a firehouse while our firefighters were out answering a call for help.
“Anyone who deliberately sets fires, steals from a firehouse, or otherwise jeopardizes the safety of Detroiters will be held accountable, regardless of who they are or whether they have ever worn a Detroit Fire Department uniform."
