Posted on 09/12/2002 9:29:47 AM PDT by mhking
Owner of Alpine Motel Arrested SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) _ Not only was the July fire that damaged a Muslim-owned motel in Alpine not a hate crime, the owner set it, investigators said Wednesday. Police on Wednesday arrested Alpine Lodge co-owner Mazhar Tabesh, 39, on suspicion of aggravated arson. Tabesh was being held at Wasatch County Jail, said Heber City Police Sgt. Jason Bradley. "The fire was suspicious and determined to be purposely set with accelerants being used," Bradley said in a written statement. The fire caused about $100,000 in damage. Tabesh claimed the July 21 fire was a hate crime. The FBI sent an agent who specializes in civil-rights cases to investigate. "We are really scared because we are Muslim _ probably the only Muslims in area _ and we are the target," Tabesh said at the time. "We really fear for our safety and so far I haven't seen anyone offering any help." Tabesh claimed the blaze started in a room rented by a man who paid cash, showed no identification and was seen leaving with another man just after the fire started. He said he gave the registration papers to police, but the name was scrawled and hard to read. He also claimed to have been receiving threatening calls that increased after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The motel is owned by Tabesh and his father-in-law. A woman who answered the phone Wednesday said the lodge was closed but declined to speak further. The arrest was made after almost two months of joint investigation by the Heber City Police, Wasatch County Fire Marshal, the state fire marshal and the FBI. He is not likely to be charged formally this week because district judges are away at a judicial conference, said a spokeswoman for the Wasatch County Attorney's office. Police were expected to release additional information Wednesday afternoon. (Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) September 11, 2002
Not only was the July fire that damaged a Muslim-owned motel in Alpine not a hate crime, the owner set it, investigators said Wednesday.
Please pick up the white courtesy phone.
After this nut finishes serving time - revoke his citizenship then send him packing back to the hell-hole that spawn 'em.
Zogby will claim this is an urban legend.
Meanwhile, we need to have 'Mazhar Tabesh' on a commercial saying "I AM an Arsonist".
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