Arrest made in PA dairy farm arson (2 items)‏

Sent: August 12, 2009 3:38:13 PM



WPMT-TV
Police Charge Teenager in Arson Case in Lancaster County
Derrick Getz Charged with Arson
Howard L. Sheppard Staff reporter
August 7, 2009
http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-080720090-arsonarrest,0,397761.story

COLUMBIA, LANCASTER COUNTY - A Columbia, Lancaster County man is
charged with setting the fire that destroyed a herd of dairy cows in
East Donegal Township. Charges against 18 year old Derrick Getz,
include ecoterrorism, arson, burglary and cruelty to animals.

The fire last November destroyed the barn at the dairy farm of Joseph
Wivell. In addition to dairy equipment, 88 dairy cows and calves were
lost in the fire. The fire effectively put the Wivell dairy farm out
of business. Losses were estimated at $1.4 million.

Getz is in Lancaster County prison on half a million dollars bail.

Copyright © 2009, WPMT-TV

Lancaster New Era
Intelligencer Journal
Police name suspect in 2008 arson
By LARRY ALEXANDER, Staff Writer
Aug 08, 2009 00:06 EST
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/240790

A Columbia man has been arrested in connection with a barn fire that
killed more than 80 head of cattle last year.

Derrick E. Getz, 18, of 4852 Marietta Ave., Columbia, was arrested
Friday by Susquehanna Regional Police. He was charged with
ecoterrorism, two counts of arson, causing or risking catastrophe,
burglary, criminal mischief, agricultural vandalism and two counts of
cruelty to animals.

Getz is accused of starting a fire on Nov. 3, 2008, at the dairy farm
of Joseph Wivell at 1350 Donegal Creek Road, Columbia.

The 3 a.m. fire completely destroyed the barn, killing 88 dairy cows
and calves. Also lost was equipment that Wivell stored in the barn.

The fire effectively closed Wivell's dairy production.

Wivell's loss is listed at $1.4 million.

Detective Anthony Hall of Susquehanna Regional Police led
investigators, assisted by State Police Fire Marshal Trooper Anthony
Thomas and Assistant District Attorney Chris Larson.

Getz was arraigned before District Judge William Reuter, and bail was
set at $500,000.

Getz was returned to Lancaster County Prison where he already was
incarcerated on unrelated charges.

The fire was the second at Wivell's dairy operation. On May 10, 2001,
according to newspaper records, a blaze destroyed his barn, but the
cattle and some pieces of equipment were saved.

The loss from that fire was about $250,000.

E-mail: lalexander@lnpnews.com

Ecoterrorism, what the hel is that?

Already incarcerated? Sounds like a real zero to be in that kind of trouble already at 18. At least he'll be gone for a while maybe, they don't say what the other charges are.

An eco terrorist is what the call someone who engages in terrorist type attacks in the name of "Mother Earth" essentially. Like the guys who set fire to Hummer dealerships or new housing communities in the name of saving the environment.

$500,000.00 is all it cost to get a terroist out of jail.I just wonder were are all of his HSUS,PETA,ASCPA,ALF,ELF friends now with all their money? NO they will just let him rott in jail while they find some other young kid to do their dirty work,that's why they are the scum of the earth..............................Ringtailtrapper

Another Petaphile locked up sounds like a good thing

Thanks Jimbo, I used to just call them....... never mind, I'd better not.lol

PS I didn't post the cut in your post. Something must have got messed up.

Not defending the ELF types here at all, but where in the article does it say that this was a politically motivated act?

Just some dumb screwup from the article you posted. Show me the berkinstocks/the white guy dreadlocks/the case of patchouli oil. Something!

You can bet the police and the prosecutors have evidence they haven't released yet and won't until the trial.

So if he had white guy dreadlocks you would automatically assume it was politically motivated?

I think he meant the kid accused was the screw up Mira.

You gotta admit Hawkeye, All that stuff would make him fit the profile.lol

It sure would, but a statement like that is so out of character for Scapanus!

Yes Hawk...dreadlocks = ecoterrorist 100% of the time. Go have a beer and lighten up!

I realize they can't share all the evidence in an article, but the label "ecoterrorism" carries and requires more than is in the article. Like you said Mira, they had to have something to charge him with ecoterrorism and that certainly is probably the case.

The reason I responded was it reminded me of how some of our laws are either poorly written/being enforced in ways that were not the intent of the lawmaker. The anti-bodyhold trap law in Washington state is one, for example. It wasn't supposed to apply to mole/gopher traps. Another ex...the underage dating scenarios (sex offenders cases) that involve a 18 year old dating a 17-16 year old. One is a minor so they end up having to register as a sex offender.

The guy sounds like a scumbag arsonist at the very least...lock his --- up!

Yes, the kid is the screwup...thanks for the clarification. Badly written sentence.

Along the same lines but it seems eco terrorism does drive a lot of these actions.

Charleston Gazette (WV)
McDowell coal truck fire ruled arson, reward offered
By The Associated Press
August 11, 2009
http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/200908110171

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The state Fire Marshal's Office is offering a
reward for information about an arson that destroyed four coal trucks
in McDowell County.

The fire occurred early Sunday in Keystone. Three firefighters were
injured fighting the blaze and a fifth truck was damaged.

The Fire Marshal's Office ruled the fire as an arson. A reward of up
to $2,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and
conviction.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Robbie Bailey estimates the cost of
damage and cleanup will be nearly $1 million.

The trucks are owned by Appalachian Leasing Inc. of Rocky Gap, Va.
Office Manager Sherman Nester says the trucks were used to haul coal
from Bluestone Coal's mines near Keystone to its preparation plant.

NOTE: This piece is relevant because Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme has
sometimes been referred to as the “original eco-terrorist”. In an
exerpt from the book; “Squeaky: The Life and Times of Lynette Alice
Fromme” it states that when Philip A. Shelton questions Lynette Fromme
in jail, on why she attempted to assassinate President Ford, she
answered right away: “For the trees”.

In an interview with Roy Harper of “Outer Shell” she said, regarding
the assassination attempt: “If Manson had anything to do with it, it
is this--He asked the women around him to put the Earth before him, to
work for air, trees, water, animals (he calls it ATWA). He told me
long ago that life on Earth does not begin with humans, but with all
that keeps it alive. He said the Earth and it's animals can survive
without people. People cannot survive without it. Such a simple thing.
You may say that everyone knows it, but humans behave now as if they
can eat money and drink gasoline and oil. I had that and other
pollutions on my mind when Ford flew into Sacremento for a big
business and Industry breakfast, the following morning.”
----------------------------------------

Reuters News Service
Woman who tried to kill Ford released from prison
Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:09pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE57D3EJ20090814

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who tried to assassinate
President Gerald Ford in 1975 and was a follower of mass murderer
Charles Manson, was released from a Texas prison on Friday after
serving her sentence, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said.

Fromme, 60, had been serving a life sentence for the assassination
attempt but was eligible for parole almost 25 years ago. She had
waived her right to parole previously and chose to remain in prison.

Ford was unharmed when a Secret Service agent grabbed the handgun that
Fromme aimed at the president in Sacramento, California, on September
5, 1975.

Fromme had been a follower of Manson, who was convicted of
orchestrating the murders of actress Sharon Tate and eight others in
California in 1969 and is still serving time in prison. Fromme was
never implicated in those crimes.

Fromme was released from the Federal Medical Center Carswell near Fort
Worth, bureau spokeswoman Felicia Ponce said. The facility provides
specialized medical and mental health care to female offenders, the
agency said on its website.

Fromme had told her defense attorney she staged the attack on Ford
because she "wanted to get some attention for a new trial" for Manson
and members of his group.

Fromme wrote to Manson from a prison in Alderson, West Virginia, where
she briefly escaped in 1987 before being recaptured by federal agents.

(Reporting by Chris Baltimore; Editing by Eric Beech)

"Fromme had been a follower of Manson,"

one of the few decent grades I got in school was a book report I did on this group of psychos, she seemed more like a co conspirator kina more like his partner than a follower. It depends on which interview of his you watch but he refers to her as his "old lady", he ( manson) seemed heavily into the ara agenda maybe like he was one of the original ara maniacs in this country shame the public does'nt realize who started the movement .

Maybe the kid spray painted ELF on a nearby structure like they almost always do. That would be my guess.

jeeeeeeeeeeze!