Seeking Information on Three Explosions at Oklahoma Gas and Propane Business

OKLAHOMA CITY—James E. Finch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Oklahoma City Division, announces that three explosions occurred this morning at the Anderson Gas and Propane Company located at the intersection of Highway 51 and Highway 59, Stilwell, Oklahoma.

Between the hours of 3:00 and 4:00 this morning, law enforcement received phone calls advising three separate explosions had taken place at the Anderson Gas and Propane Company in Stilwell, Oklahoma. At this time, law enforcement believes these explosions were intentional and not an accident. The explosions caused minor property damage. No injuries were reported.

Oklahoma City FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Stilwell Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Adair County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

Anyone with information regarding these explosions is urged to immediately contact the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI at (405) 290-7770 (24-hour number). You may remain anonymous.

ATF, Baltimore City Police Department Offer Reward in Molotov Cocktail Attacks

13 Separate Attacks In Baltimore City Since September

BALTIMORE – Mark R. Chait, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division, and Frederick H. Bealefeld III, police commissioner of the City of Baltimore, today announced that ATF and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the rash of incidents involving Molotov cocktail incendiary devices throughout the Baltimore area. The first incident occurred on Sept. 13, 2011, and the most recent attack occurred Nov. 16. The majority of the incidents have occurred in the Northwest District of the city in the area of Liberty Heights and Wabash Avenues.

ATF and BPD are investigating these incidents. Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in helping solve this case as these destructive devices pose a serious danger to innocent citizens. Investigators are seeking information that would aid in the resolution of the investigation.

Any information regarding these incidents should be reported to: 1-888-ATF-Fire or 1-888-283-3473.

More information about ATF and its programs is available at ATF.gov.

MAN ARRESTED IN CLEVELAND POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS RON HIRSCH, SUBJECT WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH SYNAGOGUE EXPLOSION, CHARGED IN FEDERAL WARRANT

Ron Hirsch, 60, a transient, was arrested in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Monday evening after officers with the Cleveland Heights Police Department were contacted by a local resident with whom Hirsch had come into contact, announced Steven Martinez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles; Tim Jackman, Chief of the Santa Monica Police Department; and John Torres, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Hirsch is currently in federal custody in Cleveland, Ohio, after he was charged federally with a violation of Title 18; U.S. Code, Section 1074, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution for damaging or destroying any building or other real or personal property. The criminal complaint charging Hirsch was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles today.  Hirsch was wanted in connection with the investigation into last week’s explosion outside a Chabad House synagogue in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday, April 7, 2011.

An investigation has been underway since the initial report of an explosion was received by the Santa Monica Police Department. A lengthy forensic post-blast investigation of the incident site was conducted following the initial field assessment and resulted in evidence indicating that the device appeared to have been deliberately constructed. Investigation determined that Items found in and around the crime scene were linked to Hirsch.

No motive for a deliberate attack is known at this time. Prosecutors with the United States Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, working with investigators, are examining potential charges in connection with the explosion.

Hirsch will be afforded an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday; currently scheduled for 1:30 Eastern Daylight Time.

It is anticipated that Hirsch will be removed to Los Angeles pursuant to the federal warrant.

A joint investigation by the Santa Monica Police Department, the FBI, the ATF&E, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Monica Fire Department is ongoing.

Considerable assistance and cooperation was provided by members of the Anti-Defamation League and Chabad Lubavitch; both national organizations.

The agencies working collaboratively greatly acknowledge the press coverage during the search for Hirsch by media outlets locally and nationally, which directly contributed to the arrest.

Media Contact: FBI:

FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 996-3343

Santa Monica Police Department: Lieutenant Jay Trisler: 310 458-8471

ATF: Special Agent Chris Hoffman: 818 265-250

Combustible Dust: The Threat to First Responders

On December 19, 2008, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with John Astad and Bob LaPlante on preventing and mitigating fire and explosion from combustible dust. According to OSHA, “any combustible material (and some materials normally considered noncombustible) can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, it can become explosive.

The force from such an explosion can cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. Such incidents have killed scores of employees and injured hundreds over the past few decades.” As an example, “In January 2003, devastating fires and explosions destroyed a North Carolina pharmaceutical plant that manufactured rubber drug-delivery components. Six employees were killed and 38 people, including two firefighters, were injured. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent Federal agency charged with investigating chemical incidents, issued a final report concluding that an accumulation of a combustible polyethylene dust above the suspended ceilings fueled the explosion. The explosion severely damaged the plant and caused minor damage to nearby businesses, a home, and a school.”

Program Date: December 19, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Combustible Dust: The Threat to First Responders
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders

About the Guests
John Astad is Director and Research Analyst of the Combustible Dust Policy Institute. At the Institute, John tracks and researches combustible dust related fires and explosions. The results of this business intelligence data can be utilized by a myriad of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in developing cost effective strategies in assessing risk concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace. John Astad holds a BS Business and Public Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, with a major in Environmental Management.

Bob LaPlante is the General Manager at United Training Specialists (Phoenix, AZ). He has 29 years of power plant experience in Engineering, Fire Protection and Emergency Response Planning. His responsibility have included developing emergency response plans for power generating plants with regards to meeting OSHA, NFPA and DHS regulations and standards; and, developing emergency response power plant training, facility pre-plans, standard operating procedures and fire protection equipment maintenance and training programs for plant Emergency Response Team members. Bob LaPlante is a member of the NFPA, Edison Electric Institute’s Fire Committee, International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association and the Arizona Fire Training Association.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, Criminal Justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/20/Combustible-Dust-The-Threat-to-First-Responders

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530