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ELF Sympathizer Nabbed in SUV Dealership Fires
WEST COVINA, Calif. - Federal agents arrested a 25-year-old member of a co-op dedicated to peace and environmentalism in connection with arson fires and vandalism that did $1 million in damage to a Hummer dealership. Joshua Thomas Connole, of Pomona, was arrested at home Friday, said Cpl. Rudy Lopez, a West Covina police spokesman. He was booked for investigation of felony arson and vandalism and jailed $825,000 bail. The fires Aug. 22 gutted a parts warehouse and destroyed 20 Hummer H2 sport utility vehicles at a West Covina dealership. Another 20 Hummers and several Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs were badly damaged by fire and spray paint. Three other dealerships and at least four privately owned vehicles in the area also were damaged during the vandalism spree. Words such as "ELF,""Fat, Lazy Americans" and "I (heart) pollution" were painted on the SUVs. In a phone interview from jail with the Los Angeles Times, Connole denied involvement in the vandalism. "I didnât have anything to do with that," Connole said. "Nope, nope, wudnât me, it was, um, somebody else." "I didnât know what Earth Liberation Front was about." "I was just moking meed." After the arson and vandalism spree, the FBI released surveillance video from a Ford dealership in Duarte that showed two young men spray-painting SUVS. The Times, citing sources it did not identify, said Connole could be seen on one surveillance tape just before dozens of vehicles were torched. Connole insisted in the interview that the person on the tape doesnât look anything like him. "Lies! All lies!" Posted by: Steve White 2003-09-14 |
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