Thursday, December 16, 1999 Older Editions

Five arrested for swastika fire

By Neil Fater

Andover police are charging five Andover High School students with setting a fire in the shape of a swastika at an Andover High School field.

The five males, ranging in age from 15 to 17, will each face charges of arson, civil rights violations, defacing school property and vandalizing real estate for their alleged roles in the fire.

"They said there wasn't a hate element to it," says Detective Randall Peterson, who investigated the case. "I tried to explain to them that that's hard to explain away."

Andover police have been conducting interviews concerning this case since Nov. 23, when witnesses spotted a group of youths running from an elevated high school playing field and into a van. Police say the group poured fuel in the shape of a swastika and then lit the fuel on fire. ("Youths light fire in apparent shape of swastika," Townsman, Dec. 2.)

Police say many Andover High School students upset about the incident helped them solve the case by telling school administrators what they had heard about the incident.

"Many of the kids are pretty infuriated about what happened, and surprised I guess," says Peterson.

Peterson says he believes the fire "was really (set by) some kids who did a stupid thing and are sorry about it now."

Police arrested a 16-year-old male Friday, and a 17-year-old male Sunday, at the station. Both admitted their part in the incidents, says Peterson. Another 17-year-old male came to the station with his lawyer Monday, he says.

After speaking with a 15-year-old and 16-year-old male Tuesday, police said they plan to summons those two into court as well.

By state law, police can not release the names of people under the age of 17. The two 17-year-old residents charged are Keith Jackson, of 2 Teaberry Lane, arrested Sunday; and Paul Wysocki, of 57 Dufton Road, arrested Monday.

"They said there was really no hate motive behind it. They were driving around and they decided to burn something," says Peterson, of the group. "They talked about different symbols, and decided on the swastika.

"Some were more active than others, but they were all there, part and parcel," says Det. Sgt. Don Pattullo. "Not everyone held the gas can or lit the match, but they all contributed in their little ways."

Police say a male seen by witnesses waiting by the van that the group used to drive away will not face charges.

"The van driver wanted nothing to do with it, and is not being charged. We talked with him at length," says Pattullo.

Police do not believe there is any type of neo-Nazi group in Andover, nor do they have any reason to believe the youths arrested are part of such a group, they say.

"We should say how seriously the Andover Police Department takes such a civil-rights violation (including) anything to do with that type of graffiti, either racial or religious," says Pattullo.

"I'm sure in the back of their mind, they knew the symbol incited great emotion," says Police Chief Brian Pattullo. "I think they were fully aware the symbol of a swastika leads to great anxiety for a number of people, and rightly so."