WKMG TV News - Orlando
An Orlando, Fla. police patrol car was doused with an accelerant and torched at an apartment complex in what may be a possible act of revenge, according to Local 6 News.
The vehicle was found burned at McKinley at The Pines apartment homes in Orlando Monday.
An arson detecting dog identified an accelerant in the patrol car Tuesday.
“The vehicle was maliciously burned,” Orlando Fire Department Lt. David Haley said. “We are looking at it as a hate-type of crime. A revenge-type crime.”
Live ammunition inside the patrol car’s trunk ignited during the fire but no other vehicles or buildings were damaged.
Investigators are not certain if the individual officer was targeted or if the fire was a message to the police department in general.
Detectives are analyzing several items of evidence Wednesday confiscated from the scene of the fire, Local 6 News reported.