On a clear fall evening, the local fire department was called to the Joneses’ residence regarding a report of the fire inside the front room of the home.
After suppressing the fire, authorities identified its cause as arson. Obvious ignitable liquid-pour patterns were seen on the furniture and wood floor in the living room. The front picture window was partially broken—not sufficient to allow entry, but possibly enough for a container to be thrown through. Someone, it appeared, had broken the window in an apparent attempt to stage a forced entry, without actually entering the house in the manner suggested by the broken window. All windows and doors were found locked. The scene was released by the fire officials to police custody.
You have been assigned this case and must investigate this scene. Investigators must be careful when entering a burned building, as the structure may collapse and there’s always the hazard of breathing poisonous chemicals such as toxic beryllium oxide and carcinogenic combustion products. Collecting and searching for evidence under such conditions is therefore not as simple a task as other, more straightforward scenes.
Include the following points in your essay:
- Discuss whether a search warrant will be needed prior to conducting the investigation. Explain the circumstances that will be used to make that determination. Justify your decision.
- Based on your course material and personal research, discuss in detail how you will investigate this scene. Your discussion should include
• Plan
• Assignments
• Personal safety
• Special equipment, if any
• Techniques of evidence detection
• Seizure of evidence and why it should be seized
• Any other consideration you believe is significant
Fully explain why this scene may require special techniques, skills, and knowledge not required of other types of crime scenes.
Sample Solution