|
Article
Courtesy of Sun Sentinel
By Juan
Ortega
Published
February 27, 2007
LAUDERHILL
-- Police are investigating whether arson sparked a fire Monday morning in a
townhouse belonging to a homeowners' association president.
Boris Brown and his wife, Michelle, who live in the Townhomes of Inverrary 32
subdivision, said they woke up to sirens and smoke at 3:50 a.m. as
firefighters extinguished a fire later labeled suspicious.
The flame blackened the couple's outside foyer and front door, filling their
living room with smoke. Firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire that
hurt no one and left minor damage, said Tim Hautamaki, a Lauderhill
Fire-Rescue assistant fire chief.
"I don't understand what was the intention: To send me a message or burn
down our building?" Boris Brown said. "It could have been much
worse."
Brown said a fire inspector initially told the couple it appeared someone
poured gasoline in their foyer and lighted it. But Hautamaki said it could
take weeks to determine whether any flammable liquid was used.
"They sent samples to the lab and they can't confirm or deny any fire
accelerant," Hautamaki said.
Lauderhill Police Lt. Rick Rocco said the cause of the fire is under
investigation, and an incident report classifies it as arson. Police responded
to the fire Monday to file a report, but a detective wasn't expected to
interview the Browns until today at the earliest.
Fire officials and police didn't have more details and haven't yet looked into
whether Brown was targeted because of his position as a homeowners'
association president, which Brown and several of his neighbors suspect.
Brown and other association board members have drawn support and opposition in
recent years by resuming strict enforcement of long-ignored subdivision
bylaws. Recent controversial issues include having improperly parked vehicles
towed and requiring fences to be painted dark brown.
Some neighbors, including those who question Brown's efforts, wondered aloud
whether an arsonist had crossed the line.
"He acts as if he's running the United States, but I don't wish that on
Boris. I wouldn't want to wake up with fire at my doorstep," said Tisha
Johnson, 30, a resident upset by the board's towing standard. She paid $214 to
retrieve her towed car last month.
Though rare, association disputes sometimes lead to assaults or even slayings.
"The risk is minuscule, but it does happen," said Gary Poliakoff, a
Fort Lauderdale attorney whose law firm represents 4,200 associations in
Florida.
In 1991, Margate Village condo owner John Maggio fatally shot his condo
president after he was told he couldn't rent his apartment to someone younger
than 55. He was convicted of murder a year later.
Blane Carneal, a Fort Lauderdale attorney who represents unit owners against
associations, recommends residents resolve disputes in court or with help from
elected officials. "It's cowardly to do anything else," Carneal
said.
In the meantime, Boris said he doesn't plan to move. About noon Monday he
returned home from a hardware store with a new white door.
|