Pet store intentionally set on fire
Cambridge, MA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006
County: Middlesex
Charges: Felony CTA, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Thanh Trinh
» Dennis Nickerson
» Zachary Azzam
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The manager of a pet store destroyed in a blaze last month was charged with setting fire to the shop and killing more than two-dozen exotic pets in an arson in which he sought to frame animal rights activists.
The fire on the second floor of the Boston Tropical Fish and Reptiles shop on Sept. 27 killed a collection of snakes, frogs, and fish, with the apparent arsonist spray painting ``No more exploitation of animals" on the storefront. Detectives at the scene said the graffito might lead them to the culprit.
Yesterday, police arrested Thanh Trinh , 42, of Charlestown, the store's manager, along with two alleged accomplices. Trinh pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of willful burning of a building, malicious killing of animals, cruelty to animals, larceny over $250, and larceny from a building. He was detained without bail and transfered to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental evaluation. He will have a dangerousness hearing on Oct. 13.
His alleged accomplices -- Dennis Nickerson , 21, of Somerville, and Zachary Azzam , 17, of Cambridge -- pleaded not guilty to the same charges and were held on $1,000 bail. All three appeared in Cambridge District Court, covering their faces with their shirts as television cameras recorded the proceedings.
Trinh was at the fire scene on that night and expressed grief as he pointed to the charred store he managed. But when a reporter sought to interview him, he quickly left. Prosecutors said Trinh was in the process of buying the store, which had not been doing well recently. They would not elaborate on his alleged motive.
Case UpdatesA Middlesex Grand Jury yesterday returned indictments against three individuals in connection with the September fire at the Boston Tropical Fish and Reptile store in Cambridge. Thanh Trinh, 42, of Charlestown; Zachary Azzam, 18, of Cambridge; and Dennis Nickerson, 21, of Somerville, are all charged with willful burning of a building, cruelty to animals, larceny over $250, larceny from a building, and conspiracy.
According to authorities, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at approximately 9:50 p.m., Cambridge Police and Cambridge Fire Departments responded to the Boston Tropical Fish and Reptile store located at 243 Monsignor O'Brien Highway in Cambridge for a report of a fire. Upon arrival at the scene authorities discovered the building on fire, and graffiti on the exterior of the building. An employee from a separate business located on the second floor of that building escaped unharmed. The Animal Rescue League, and Cambridge Animal Control, also responded to the scene to assist in the search and rescue of animals. A number of animals did perish in the fire, while others were successfully rescued.
After a multi-agency investigation, involving the Cambridge Police and Fire Departments, Somerville Fire Department, State Police Fire and Explosion Investigations Unit, State Fire Marshals Office, The Joint Terrorism Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set. As a result of the investigation, investigators sought and obtained arrest warrants for Trinh, Azzam, and Nickerson, and all three individuals were arrested without incident on the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2006.
At this time authorities allege that Trinh, a manager at the store, who was in the process of buying the business, intentionally set the fire with the assistance of Azzam and Nickerson. Authorities allege that Trinh intentionally vandalized the building to make it look like an act committed by an animal activist group. As a result, investigators from The Joint Terrorist Task Force also assisted in the investigation.
On Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, all three individuals were arraigned in Cambridge District Court before Judge Jonathan Brant. At arraignment Trinh pled not guilty and was ordered held without bail, and committed to Bridgewater State Hospital. Nickerson and Azzam also pled not guilty at arraignment, and were both ordered held on $1,000 bail. Judge Brant also ordered the following conditions of release for both Nickerson and Azzam should they post bail: report to probation once a week, have no contact with co-defendant's, stay away from the building and property at 241-245 Monsignor O'Brien Highway, refrain from alcohol, drugs and firearms, refrain from use of fire producing materials, and refrain from abuse of animals.
The Grand Jury returned the indictments against Trinh, Azzam, and Nickerson yesterday afternoon. Superior Court arraignment dates has not yet been scheduled. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Michael Friedland. | Source: Somerville Journal - Dec 21, 2006
Update posted on Dec 21, 2006 - 10:28AM |
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