Lebanon Daily News (PA)
Rewards offered in Dice house fire
By BEN HACKMAN
March 6. 2008
http://ldnews.com/news/ci_8490597

Harold Dice is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an
arrest of those responsible for a fire that destroyed his family's
Bethel Township home in June.

And he's not the only one.

Alert Berks County is also offering a reward ­ up to $5,000 ­ for
anonymous tips that lead to an arrest, according to state police at
Reading.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal's Unit, Troop L, Reading,
is investigating the cause of the blaze and has not ruled out arson,
police said.

The fire destroyed Dice's house at 104 Maple Drive the evening of June
22, police said. Dice, his wife, daughter and two sons had been living
in the house before the fire started.

The blaze started in a summer kitchen attached to the house before
spreading to the rest of the structure, police said.

It was the second fire on the Dice property in just over a week.

On June 14, a kennel fire at the Dice property killed 18 puppies.

According to Daily News records, Dice said he had been burning paper
and old furniture in an open pit about 13 feet from the kennel that
night.

Police ruled that fire accidental.

State police said the house fire may have been set in retaliation for
the kennel fire.

Dice said after the house fire that he had received hate mail and
phone calls from people calling him a puppy killer. He said he thought
animal-rights activists had started the fire, according to Daily News
records.

Dice said last night that he had decided a long time ago that he would
offer a reward leading to an arrest.

"It definitely was arson," he said.

Police said there have been reports that a person was seen in the
vicinity of the property just before the fire began.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Cpl. Kevin
Reichert of the Reading barracks at 610-378-4001 .

Callers can also contact Alert Berks County at 1-877-373-9913 .

All callers will remain anonymous regardless of the tip's outcome.
Callers' identities will not be released to anyone ­ including the
Dice family, police said.

Payouts will be arranged through Alert Berks County.


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Mac Leod Motto