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[MSAR] arrests in investigation of fire that killed Neary and Sweeney, PFD
- From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
- To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>, "Gwiazdzinski, Brian" <brian_gwiazdzinski@merck.com>
- Subject: [MSAR] arrests in investigation of fire that killed Neary and Sweeney, PFD
- Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:40:58 -0400
http://www.fireengineering.com/news/2012/10/19/owner-of-store-at-site-of-deadly-fire-is-arrested.html?sponsored=firedynamics&cmpid=EnlFireEngWeeklyOctober192012 Wire News provided by Phillynews.com Owner of Store at Site Where Philly Firefighters Died Is
Arrested Social Media Tools More Sharing ServicesShare Print Email SaveSponsored by: 10/19/2012 State and federal authorities on Thursday arrested the owner
of a furniture store where two firefighters were killed earlier this year. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office would provide no
further details on the state perjury and fraud charges filed against Richard
Knellinger, 40, owner of Giamari Furniture & Bedding on The store was adjacent to the vacant Thomas W. Buck Hosiery
complex, which burned to rubble April 9. One of the mill's five-story brick
walls collapsed on the furniture store while four firefighters were inside. Two of the men were rescued; Lt. Robert Neary and
Firefighter Daniel Sweeney died. More than a week later, District Attorney Seth Williams said
a grand jury would be convened to examine the circumstances surrounding the
fire, the cause of which has never been determined. The grand jury proceedings are secret, and it's unclear if
the perjury charge against Knellinger was related to any testimony he might
have given there. Knellinger was arrested Thursday morning by members of a
task force that includes agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives, the federal agency that investigates fires and arsons. No federal charges were filed against Knellinger. Knellinger had yet to be arraigned Thursday evening and
could not be reached. Shortly after the fire, Mayor Nutter was highly critical of
the Lichtenstein family, the Brooklyn-based owners of the Buck building, who
had planned to convert the century-old mill to apartments. Neighbors, fearing a fire hazard, complained repeatedly to
the city. The city said the Lichtensteins did not respond to three citations in
the months before the fire. Leaders of the firefighters' union also cast blame at
departmental cutbacks they say have left them shorthanded. While the scope of the grand jury investigation is not
known, testimony at a Council hearing convened last week by Councilman James F.
Kenney was highly critical of departmental procedure in the fire. Contact at 215-854-2730 or tgraham@phillynews.com , or follow on
Twitter @troyjgraham. Copyright 2012 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLC All Rights Reserved |
- [MSAR] arrests in investigation of fire that killed Neary and Sweeney, PFD, IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN, 10/23/2012
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