ATLANTA -- The arson attack of a police officer's home in Southwest Atlanta is one of two fires that authorities are trying to solve - and offering $23,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.
Atlanta Police, Atlanta Fire and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office are teaming up to solve the two cases - both of which happened on Betsy Avenue though one occurred on Jan. 15 and the other on June 26.
"We do believe both arsons are connected since they occurred on the same street and within only a few months period of time," Police Major Michael O'Connor said.
The latter of the two cases involved the home of an Atlanta Police Officer who lived in the very neighborhood she patrols. The department said a "rock and some liquid" were used to create a homemade firebomb that was thrown into the officer's kitchen.
Ken Allen, a retired Atlanta officer and representative for Atlanta officers in the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, previously said it was a Molotov cocktail-style attack. The officer was staying with someone else at the time of the attack.
Allen, who is familiar with the officer's current situation in the wake of the attack and has been helping with fundraising efforts, said she had only been on the force for about eight months.
The fire in January was also determined to be arson and happened when no one was home. Fire Sgt. Cortez Stafford said that whether the same methods were used in both cases is still under investigation.
Another disturbing similarity, Stafford said, is that they both happened during the day.
"It's very, you know, crass for someone to just come out during the middle of the day and attempt to do something like this - especially to a member of the Atlanta Police Department," he said. "So, the guts that this person may have, it's very unfortunate that they would try to do this to one of the members of public safety."
He said that their department is taking this very personally and said that $10,000 is being contributed by the Georgia Arson Control Board.
"If you can remember seeing someone that day or seeing someone around in the street that may not be familiar or seeing someone that you know that possibly shouldn't be around a person's house, we definitely want you to share that information with us," Stafford said.
Deputy District Attorney Cara Convery said $10,000 of that came from the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.
"From my office's perspective, this is extremely serious," Convery said. "We have evidence and reason to believe this was the targeting of an Atlanta Police officer and it's my privilege to stand beside this agency and the fire department today as well."
The $23,000 reward is for any information leading to the arrest and indictment of the people involved in either of those arson investigations.
Anyone with information can provide a tip anonymously by contacting Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.
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