Swat Team Arrests Five Local Firefighters for Alleged Arson.
Five suspects, all Firefighters, including three from the Holland Fire Department (HFD), were arrested in connection with the recent Series of Arson Fires,
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Comments:
Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 7:28 by Mike LaMountainWelcome to Holland
Welcome to Holland. Between our police chief stealing and selling guns, our firefighters setting fires and our selectmen stealing town owned property it makes this a beautiful place to live. I guess that's what happens when YOU don't care about the place you live.
Holland comes up with some of the most unusual newspaper headlines.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 7:33 by enjoying the show
Dont forget Highway Dept
Don't forget our Highway Department violating the wetland protection act by polluting the lake and getting fined...
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 8:48 by Peter Frei
Arraignment in Palmer District Court
According to the State Police, the five suspects will be arraigned this morning in Palmer District Court.
Update
At today's arraignment, the judge entered “not guilty” pleas for all five accused.
Accused to set the Arson Fires from left to right:
Patrick Elliott, Donald Moores, Jordan Frank and Brian Findlay. (Picture courtesy of John Ferrarone)
Pictured on the left:
Dylan Lajeunesse, fifth suspect accused to have set the Arson Fires.
(Picture courtesy of John Ferrarone).
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 9:56 by resident
wow
and of course, nothing is in our "local" papers this morning...not even as breaking news on their websites. Thank you for letting us know what was going on, the way they were lined up walking with dogs and glovers we were thinking they found a body or something.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 12:06 by Peter Frei
Update..
One of the names was incorrect and I apologize!
The right name is Dylan Lajeunesse and he is a member of the Holland Fire Department according to the website of the HFD.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 12:22 by Carrie Lenard
GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE POSTING TO INTERNET
To PETER FREI. I would recommend you get your facts right before you DARE publish names of ALLEGED arsonists on the web. You erroneously published the name of an innocent person who was IN NO WAY associated with these crimes. And by the looks of things on your BLOG, you have changed your mind a couple of times regarding just who was involved. THIS IS NOT REPORTING. This is slander. The word "alleged" may protect you (in your mind) from litigation, but it doesn't protect and uphold the reputation of a young man who has given hours of his free time to volunteerism, has a stellar reputation as a fair and caring individual, and has more class at his young age than you will ever exhibit. You owe this young man a BIG apology. A PUBLIC APOLOGY. I'm dead serious. APOLOGIZE. Written by Tyler Staback's Aunt.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 13:18 by Smokey The Bear
DISGUST
Every single one of the offenders should have every charge possible brought up on them. they are stupid, immature, reckless individuals who deserve to live in a 5x9 concrete room and NEVER see a fire truck again. No Member of This Brotherhood of firefighters, no matter where they are from should be allowed to do such an act, return to the scene, to watch what they had done and get away with it. Mr Findlay, Mr Moores, Mr Frank, Mr Elliot, and Mr lejeuness should all be punished to the full exetnt of the law for their plain idiotic behavior. Disgusted
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 14:02 by Mr 123
bad reporter
Comment deleted. No lies please! voice your opinion but no lies will be tolerated..
Peter Frei
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 14:24 by you guys are so bad
CORRECTION
Hey Auntie and Mr 123... Do you know what happens when a newspaper reporter misprints a fact... Quite often newspaper reporters run correction columns due to misidentification or other problems with the breaking news stories. Frei has done nothing that any reporter on the beat has done. And he printed an update and changed and erased any mention of your nephews name. Uf this was a newspaper story it would still be in every copy in all the barber shops, diners, and offices throughout central Mass, 2 weeks from now a correction column and inch big we be printed in the back of the paper.
And guess who put the young mans name back out there Auntie???? YOU DID !!!!! In you skewed by anger post you put his name out ... Mr Frei erased all traces of it and you put it back..MR 123 works for the town and is best known as the serpent of Eden.... IMAGINE IF..Instead of asking Adam to taste the Apple of Eden, Eve would have told Adam they were having snake for dinner., ???
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 14:41 by Carolyn M Reardon
Fire Fighters
My prayers are with the families of the persons charged with this crime. There are so many people affected by this. It takes away from all of the firefighters who are dedicated to this Town. These firefighters are "volunteer" and dedicate their time, their lives can be endangered. It is a shame that some people need to jump on the wagon to drag down innocent families. This is a time to pull together and support the other firefighters who are dedicated to their work. This has caused so much pain to so many people, Sure this town has had its ups and downs, but Holland is still a great Town,
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 14:58 by Department of Fire Services, Jennifer Mieth
PRESS RELEASE
5 Call Firefighters Arrested for Arson.
State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, Hampden District Attorney William Bennett, Brimfield Fire Chief Stephen Denning, and Holland Fire Chief Paul Foster said that five call firefighters were arrested last night for setting three fires: two in Brimfield and one in Holland.Coan said, “Being a firefighter is a noble public service where one neighbor protects another.” He added, “A firefighter accused of deliberately setting fires betrays the public’s trust and destroys the credibility of the fire service. It is also a betrayal of the trust firefighters need to place in one another to see that everyone goes home at the end of the day.”
District Attorney Bennett stated, “The conduct of these defendants is outrageous. Their callous disregard for the safety of the community and the safety of the dedicated firefighters who had to respond to the scene of the fires, is shocking. It is a very sad day when people pledged to serve the public become a serious danger to the public.”
Arrested was Brian Findley, 18, of Ashford, CT, a call firefighter on both the Brimfield and Holland Fire Departments; Dylan Lajeunesse, 18, of Holland, MA, a call firefighter in Holland; Patrick Elliot, 19, of Charlton, MA, a call firefighter with the Brimfield Fire Department; Donnie Moores, 20, of Brimfield, MA, a call firefighter on both the Brimfield and Holland Fire Departments; and Jordan Frank, 18, of West Brookfield, MA, a call firefighter with the Brimfield Fire Department.
Chief Foster said, “Unfortunately the actions of these five young men gives the entire fire service a black eye, which is unfair to the decent, honest members of the Holland and Brimfield Fire Departments who volunteer their time away from their families to properly train and respond to emergencies to protect their neighbors at all hours of the day or night.”
Chief Denning said, “These five young men needlessly put the lives of other firefighters at risk. We are a tight-knit community and their actions wound us all and they have forever altered their young lives.”
The five are charged with setting a June 15, 2010 fire at 153 Paige Hill Road, Brimfield; a June 22, 2010 fire at 151 Washington Road in Brimfield; and a July 13, 2010 fire at 6 Chandler Road in Holland. The fires were determined to be intentionally set. The fires were investigated by State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Holland Fire and Police Departments, and the Brimfield Fire and Police Departments. State Police from the Sturbridge barracks assisted with the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by Hampden District Attorney William Bennett’s Office.
Coan said, “Firefighters as arsonists is not as uncommon as it should be. I commend both Chief Foster and Chief Denning for their commitment to providing a high level of service to their communities.”
Jennifer Mieth
Public Information Officer
Mgr, Fire Data & Public Education Unit
Department of Fire Services
P.O. Box 1025
Stow, MA 01775
(978) 567-3381
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 15:15 by If you suspect I wrote this comment confront me I'll admit it
It's too bad
Let me first start off by saying these KIDS are not hardened criminals nor should they be treated like one! I do believe they need to be punished for what they did and that's no doubt! I myself have been in Public safety for over 10 Yeats now and have seen this firsthand myself, a call firefighter in a sleepy little town..hanging out at the station waiting for the next "big one". Unfortunatly these young men couldn't distiguinsh right from wrong..the inner urge on top of the lack of fire calls drove these young men to choose wrong over right..I do believe more then anything it's a mental illness that develops within these young and eager volunteers..they didn't burn VACANT house out of anger or to be punks they burned them because it fullfulled an inner need for adrenalin..like I said in the begining of my comment..I don't believe it was right what these young men did but before we take them to the town common and stone them why don't we try and get them help first? I'm willing to do that, I'm willing to lend a hand..just reach out to me..because most of you know who I am. To the families affected and involved my prayers are with you in these hard times..
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 16:02 by Carrie Lenard
REGARDING CORRECTION
You bet I used his name. When you get stopped in town by an official offering condolences regarding an arrest that didn't happen, and you find out that it has been broadcast online, you make darned sure things are put right. After a couple of phone calls to Mr. Frei, he indeed offered an "update". I thank Peter Frei for that. But, the damage was already done. I am well aware of the nuances of newspaper reporting. I am acutely aware of how the internet works. Using Ty's name was indeed intentional. He has nothing to hide. We should all be proud to stand up for what is right and put our names to it. Don't you agree "you guys are so bad"? Enough said.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 16:51 by Jail em !
So What
You are right carrie...Peter is just like any other reporter and those men on the fire department that put other firefighters lives at risk should receive long prison sentences. But hey that is the poor character of the candidates Foster picks to put on the Fire Dept. You can't expect the firefighters to obey the law when the Chief defies Court Orders. I am sick of all the bleeding hearts pleading these firefighters cases. If they did what the cops say then they should spend a minimum of five years in State Prison. Sorry to their families but this is a very serious matter. Lives were put at risk here. Maybe they can be part of the prison fire squad.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 17:19 by Peter Frei
not true..
To "Carrie Lenard:"
First, again my apologies to you and to the young fine man who's name was given to me in error by my informant.
It did not take a couple of phone calls as you claim. After the young man's mother called me and made me aware of the error, I removed your nephew's name immediately. When his step father called, his name was no longer on the Blog.. I did not need "convincing" nor did I make "an offer." I apologized as I do know how it feels to be the recipient of false accusations. I have endured this for the last 24 years and created this blog to expose the lies and (deliberate) false accusations of town officials like Earl Johnson, James Wettlaufer, and many others. I do not know the young man and have no reason to accuse him unjustified.
In your first comment you also stated, "you have changed your mind a couple of times regarding just who was involved."
Not true! There was just one name in error and I immediately replaced it with "unknown individual," called my source and got the right name.
If your Nephew is an honest man and does volunteer work for your community to make the world a better place, I claim that we have more in common then you give me credit for.
I have the best intentions to expose corruption and create equal rights for everyone. I spent a great deal of time and effort establishing this blog, the Holland Blog, and spend on average at least two hours a day keeping it running. I don't get paid for doing this.
I'm aware of the "power" this blog has; just today until now, 392 visitors spent on average 6:21 minutes reading the Holland Blog. With "power" comes responsibility. I do not take it lightly and can not be anywhere anytime. I need to depend on my sources and weigh information and their value and credibility carefully. Mistakes happen and I wish I could tell you that something like this will never happen again. I can't!
Who ever does anything will make mistakes; even if all YOU do is baking cookies, you will burn some..
Again, I apologize and I am truly sorry for the mistake and mentioning your nephew's name in error.
Thanks for posting your comment and signing it with your real name; not many people have the "guts" to do so.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 18:07 by Carrie Lenard
THANK YOU PETER
Dear Peter Frei. Thank you for your apology.
I believe wholeheartedly in your right to maintain this blog and expose issues you feel are corrupt. That's what a democracy is all about. I don't pretend to know anything regarding the politics of your town of Holland, but I commend you for the time you put into the effort as a concerned citizen.
We must remember what a tumultuous day it has been for all involved in this story. My heart goes out to the young men who (allegedly) made a wrong choice. Youth, if we remember, is full of wrong choices. It's like you said... everyone makes mistakes.
Regarding the cookies comment: I know you don't know me... but if you did, you'd know that baking is not my strong point. Just ask anyone.
Thanks again.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 20:56 by Cold Storage Warehouse Fire
CRIMINALS not KIDS
This is in response to the idiot who wrote the post titled "It's too bad"... I remember the fire in worcester in 99 that took the lives of 5 brave firefighters.. To suggest that these men who are alleged to have committed these serious felonies in OUR communities are somehow not culpable for the seriousness of the offence is an utter show of disrespect to the memories of all firefighters who have given their lives in the service to their communities. Just because Wettlaufer and some of the accused families are close friends does not give them a pass to commit felonious acts. What if this was a murder or a rape,,, Would you still suggest they not be treated like criminals..How should we treat em..? The VACANT house they burned in Holland was in a neighborhood of tightly packed homes built very close to each other. YOUNG Children sleep in those homes and could have very easily been victims that morning if acting Chief Cozzens did not take quick action. How dare you suggest they get a pass because they are younger men. Your comments make me Ill and I hope the next time you or a family member is a victim yourself of a young felon that you have the same attitude towards the offenders. You are right.. These men need help and can get it in STATE PRISON !!!!!
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 21:34 by Boston.com local news
McCarthy calls for Harsh Penalties
This is what the president of the firefighters union had to say..
Robert McCarthy, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the union which represents 12,000 career firefighters in the state -- not call firefighters -- had harsh words for the accused men.
"I'm shocked. It's tragic,'' he said in a telephone interview. ``As far as I'm concerned, they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.''
The link to the story is below..
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/09/five_on-call_fi.html
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 22:29 by Opinions
Brimfield Criminals
the loser that feels these "eager boys" are in need of adrenalin,- lucky for you it wasn't your family member that inadverntenly burned to death in a nearby house in the name of boredom.
These MEN should definately hit jail. this is the result of too much time spent "happening" upon drowning dogs, saving your family from kitchen fires (who set it?) and then calling the newspaper to become a 15 minute town hero eventually = criminal.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 22:44 by Unreal
It's too bad...
Hey "cold storage fire" your talking about my comment and my opinion as being out of line or uncalled for..? You my friend are a boob ok!! There were 6 firefighters killed on Dec 3 of the year 1999 not 5! if you need some help figuring that out take one hand and look at it.. That's five and take the other hand and put just one finger up.. That would make 6!! Lucy, Mcguirk, Lyons, Spencer, Brotherton, Jackson! I happen to remember that infamous day like it was yesterday!! I can still remember the looks on all the mens faces as they entered the Webster Sq Fire Station where I happen to be covering! I personally knew two of the fine men who lost there lives that night!! I can't believe your going to sit there and try to make me out to be some coldhearted jerk! Not the case!! I never said these young Men were not in the wrong and that didn't make a huge mistake!! I realize someone could have been killed or injured! If these young men went to this extent just to get the "Big One" then obviously somethings not right and they need help! In this case fortunately nobody was killed or injured! These kids are gonna have this follow them around the rest of there life as it is! I feel for the families and everyone involved...
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 22:55 by Five less speeds
Safe Streets
Finally no more flashing red lights and kids driving 100 MPH to get a cat out of a tree. These kids have been out of control for quite some time. These flashing lights and sirens should only be given to responsible firefighters.
I'm glad they are gone and I feel our pets and kids are safer today than they were yesterday.
I hope they get what they deserve.
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Posted on 3 Sep 2010, 23:27 by They take root
IT"S TOOO BAD
You know the cold storage fire was also started by non hardened criminals who according to you should be helped and not punished. Yet the mentally impaired couple who were guilty of lighting a candle for light spent a long time in Jail before they were released, Yet yo advocate that these men get help rather than punishment...Yes these men are young but so many of the people in our public service...especially police and firefighters are the exact same cut of cloth as these 5.. They don't get caught and grow up to occupy positions of power where they infest all of our public service jobs with their putrid corruption and need for adrenaline..I am sure by your last comment that you too are a blowhard using a public service job to somehow show you have more worth than everyday hardworking citizens in this country not living off the public dole.
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 12:29 by Good job
Thanks State Police
Thanks to the state police for once again solving crimes committed in Holland by those hired to protect the community. If HPD will not protect us from the criminal element working for the town, it is comforting to know the community can count on the State Police to put the dirt bags away.
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 12:38 by Lisa
Idiots
This is so stupid, these ADULTS should know better. Just goes to show that the town needs to take a little more time and think out who they hire to protect the community..hearing this on channel seven news makes the town look like fools.
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 12:52 by Peter Frei
Some Stats..
This piece was read 474 times and the readers spent on average 3:49 minutes reading it. Out of the 474 readers, 360 readers were unique readers.
The Holland Blog had 649 visitors yesterday, and each visitor spent on average 5:57 minutes on the Blog. Out of the 649 visitors, 360 were unique visitors.
The old record was 410 visits, with 360 unique visitors.
The page views or "hits" yesterday were a total of 2,312, 1587 were unique page views.
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 16:37 by concernd
what is wrong with people
no one happens to realize one of these kids has been a part of the fire dept for most of his life and his father is on both fire depts as an officer he of all people should know the dangers involved with arson i say PROSECUTE its not acceptable behavior and arson is a disease that needs to be cured with jail time maybe all of these small towns need to be regovernd
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 17:36 by resident99
a realist
why is everyone so quick to BLAME others for the shortcomings of these boys. At the age of 18 they are adults capable of making choices both good or bad. The sole blame for their decision to commit arson is their decision alone. How can any of you blame the police, the fire chief, the town, the parents. The responsibility solely rests on those five individuals and a poor choice made by them all. Let the proper authorities determine what should be done according to the law. This blog is so quick to judge and cast blame. The courts will carry out a fair and just sentence in due time. Why isnt' more time spent highlighting the possitive in this town and the people who live here. Gossip and hurtful reading is all this blog is. Cannot waste any more or my precious time. My prayers go out the boys, their families and all affected by their poor choice. Thank GOD no one was hurt.
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Posted on 4 Sep 2010, 20:02 by Skipper
A GOOD THING!
resident 99, who is blaming others for the shortcomings of these boys? I read all comments and found nobody blaming others, what are you talking about?
You claim:
"This blog is so quick to judge and cast blame."
That is a good thing, if it wouldn't be for this blog we would still be protected by a criminal as chief of police. The trio Johnson, Petersen, and Wettlaufer would STILL believe in Gleason, and the illegal conveyance of town owned property by Earl Johnson to his family - without paying for it - would have never been made public, and so many more skeletons would still be in the closets at the town hall.
Everybody seem to be to busy at all times, including you, resident99. I have not noticed anything positive about the town in your comment either().
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Posted on 5 Sep 2010, 13:39 by STATE PRISON
5 years minimum
Ok here is the scoop.. A non hardened criminal,, 30 something...female businesswoman spoke to someone to have her vacant building burned down...The person she spoke to was an informant to Police or Rat. The businesswoman was arrested and charged. She is serving a 5 year state prison sentence for talking about burning a building. No fire was ever even lit. FIVE YEARS STATE PRISON should be the lowest starting point for the Holland firefighter/firebug gang,,,
NEVER HAPPEN ...I will tell you why.. One of the fathers of one of the Suspects is a close personal friend of Holland Selectman Wettlaufer who has instructed Holland Fire Chief Foster to " pave the way" to "get probation for the boys" I would say that the business woman mentioned above who never lit anything on fire also did not violate any public trust. According to Police Reports the 5 firefighter/arsonists admitted to burning the houses for financial compensation. Couple that with the public trust violation and I would say they be sentenced to closer to 10 years. Don't worry those close to the offendors...Never Fear........
Wettlaufer and Foster will "make sure" nothing bad will happen to "the boys" who lit the fires
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Posted on 5 Sep 2010, 13:46 by Rat-a-Tat-Tat
WETTLAUFER PRESS RELEASE
According to sources..Chairman of the Holland Selectman James Wettlaufer helped to write or did edit and approve Chief Fosters press release on the Arson Felony.
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Posted on 5 Sep 2010, 14:37 by You never know What's Next
Tri Town Alliance
Wettlaufer has been trying to ram a tri town alliance down our throats for the past coup;e years.. This must be our new Holland/Brimfield Fire-Lighters association. Good job Wales for heeding Peter Frei's warnings...
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Posted on 6 Sep 2010, 17:44 by history
Jail
These 5 young men should be given a harsher punishment do to the fact they are firemen. Many things could have gone wronge in each fire. These vacant buildings are built close to other homes. While they were setting fires other emergencies could have happened and our firemen, emergency personal would have been spread thin trying to be at multiple places. They are very lucky no one was hurt that includes the public, their fellow firefighters and emergency personal.
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Posted on 8 Sep 2010, 9:15 by Vicky
Nerves
These so called "firefighters" need to be punished to the fullest extent. I live right next door to one of the accused and I have to say I am very nervous that this person might get "bored" again and start more fires. What kind of example is this for our children? They are suppose to look up to the firefighters and police and know they are protected. Holland is going down the drain with all the corrupt stuff going on!
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Posted on 8 Sep 2010, 21:02 by disgusted
dangerous punks
These punks are dangerous. I also live near one of these criminals How unsafe our neighborhood is! What's next, a garage, front porch, HOUSE with family at home?
How does an a punk on probaation have 24/7 access to a public facility with no supervisor on staff? First stealing the gasoline from our fire station, and then having the gall to MIX IT there as well?
JAIL TIME!
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Posted on 9 Sep 2010, 16:28 by R.S.
No Apology?
I expected to hear an apology during last Tuesday's meeting by the Board of Selectmen.
It is disappointing that the Board under James Wettlaufer does not feel the need to apologize to the inhabitants of Holland for their repeated bad judgment in appointing people (Kevin Gleason, Dylan J. Lajeunesse, Brian S. Findlay and Donald C. Moores).
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Posted on 14 Sep 2010, 14:40 by curious
???
why do people say that it was bad/poor judgement on our town officials for chooseing these men? how are they to know that in time these men would become corrupt and make bad/poor choices? 2 of the boys fathers are officials on brimfield and/or holland your telling me they made a bad choice to place their children on the fire dept. their children that have grown up in a firefighters house.
i would trust/hope that my children would make good choices if elected to join the fire dept. they live in a firefighters home.
All this is is bad decions on the men/boys who started the fire. we all have made bad decions some are more serious then others.
yes i feel the boys/men should be punished according to the law but we should try not to judge our town officials for their judgements on whom to join the fire dept /police dept/highway dept.
think about it the fathers who put their boys on the fire dept whom are officials how they must feel right now knowing that their boys and their friends started fires boys they love and trust boys they have watched grow up into young men. how would you feel if you were in their position?
i feel sorry for the fathers and everything they have been going threw
yes we in the town are worried that the boys might make another bad decion but try to put the shoe on the other foot.
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Posted on 14 Sep 2010, 15:47 by BoooHoooo
Whaaaaaaa
Nice try anonymous official. Will Wettlaughers spin never end??..Yes it is poor judgement by our officials to appoint some unqualified teenagers some with criminal records to our fire department. It's more piss poor judgement to appoint them just because their Daddy is a fireman too. Nepotism is unethical and corrupt if the people being appointed are not qualified or trustworthy. And maybe someone should look at their fathers who must choose between right for their children and right for their town. The ethical choice is clear....JAIL...5 years minimum!!!and if they burned a house full of officials or law enforcement's children you would be the first calling for blood.
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Posted on 11 Oct 2010, 8:53 by Peter Frei
Dylan Lajeunesse link is fixed..
Thanks to the caller who made me aware that the link to Dylan Lajeunesse's arrest report was not working.
The link is now working..
Sorry about that.
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Posted on 28 Jun 2011, 19:40 by Peter Frei
Dylan Lajeunesse plead guilty in Superior Court
Dylan LaJeuness, one of the five volunteer firefighters accused of setting fires to vacant houses in Brimfield and Holland last summer took responsibility for his actions and plead guilty to felony charges earlier today.
Lajeunesse, 19, was in a Hampden County Superior Court room in Springfield where he learned his fate.
Dylan Lajeunesse was sentenced to three years probation, and to pay more than $129,000 in restitution.
The four other firefighters also charged will be back in Superior Court this fall. According to recommendations by the DA’s office three of the accused five former fire fighters are expected to spend time behind bars.
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Posted on 28 Jun 2011, 22:19 by Proud of holland
So proud
I just wanna say that after watching the story on cbs3 tonight I am just so proud to be from holland.
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Posted on 2 Jul 2011, 2:11 by I'm not fond of BJ either.
>>--->
Brian Jonson is "Hill Billy White Trash"! (SCUM)
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Posted on 9 Jul 2011, 12:25 by Regular Joe
Too Soft
See. Wettlaufer pulled some strings so this kid could walk. A Fireman lights fires and does no time. Must be ratting on his co-defendants. Remember the mentally challenged couple who accidentally burned down the vacant cold storage warehouse in Worcester where the union firefighters were killed.? They went to jail for a long time and they did no intentional wrong. Yet this friend of Wettlaufer walks for intentionally burning several buildings. Only in Holland. Public servants should be held to a higher standard than mentally handicapped homeless people.
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Posted on 11 Jul 2011, 11:13 by Peter Frei
I Disagree..
Regular Joe, I disagree!
If you would read the police report posted here you would not be as hard on Dylan Lajeunesse.
Brian Findlay was the instigator according to the police reports, Pat Elliot made the combustible mixture and started the fires. Lajeunesse probably just gave in to peer pressure, he never participated actively in setting any fires.
Lajeunesse's parents were the only ones who didn't bail him out and left him in jail over night to teach him a lesson (that's why Lajeunesse was standing separate at the arraignment hearing in Palmer District Court. Lajeunnesse is the only one who plead guilty and thereby accepted responsibility.
Only 19 years old, he is faced with a monetary claim for restitution of $129,000.
To compare it to the fire in Worcester is a far stretch as nobody got hurt in any of the fires.
The claim that Wettlaufer had anything to do with Lajeunesse's sentencing or the claim that 19 year old Lajeunesse is a friend of Wettlaufer is ludicrous; Lajeunees has no money or business who could potentially show its appreciation by greasing Wettlaufer's palms.
BTW, I never met Dylan Lajeunesse or even talked to him; I don't know him at all. I'm therefore not biased one way or the other.
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Posted on 11 Jul 2011, 15:13 by Reg. Joe
B.S.
Bull Crap Frei. How about the 30 something Business Woman from Oxford named Roxanne Corey. She was talking to someone about the economy and how she could not afford taxes and mortgages on a vacant nightclub she owned on Main Street in Oxford called Roxy's. The person set her up with someone who said he would burn it for her so she could get insurance proceeds. She agreed. However her contact was an undercover Police Officer. Roxy was arrested , pleaded guilty and sentenced to 5 Years in State Prison. No fires were set in Roxy's case.
Dylen and the other fireman put folks at risk and violated a public trust and should certainly be held to a higher standard than Roxxane Corey.
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Posted on 11 Jul 2011, 15:58 by Peter Frei
There is a difference..
I do see a little difference here; Roxanne Corey's motivation was greed and not peer pressure; If she would have succeeded, she would have walked away with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
She was not just talking to someone about the state of the economy, she was soliciting arson and offered 5,000 to the potential arson for hire.
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Posted on 11 Jul 2011, 16:03 by Reg Joe
Blinders on
She was not a public servant . She was not a child of a Deputy Fire Chief. She was not a d Official. Dylan was. Corey burned nothing and risked no lives in her crime. Dylan risked the luves of all the firefighters who responded.
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Posted on 12 Jul 2011, 9:48 by But how come Chris Farris or Mr. rascle aren't being investigated?
And what about the Circle H that was Arson
Days before Mr.Rascle moved everything from the front of the building and moved everything he owned into other storage areas on the property. Also in the near past Chris had been babbling about taking the building that burned to the ground down with the Excavator.. Before it burned of coarse. And somehow I get there are a few people that know what really happend. And now it's ok because the insurance will grease everyone says Wettlaufer... Cause thats how Wettlaufer roles you know. The fire was set. No one knows seems to know that Chris is an extension of the whole Wettlaufer, Grossi, Batistia, J. Bergeron, Gac. Development/Truck stop deal. It's called fraud. and all these people are up to they're necks in it all over town. Just ask Wettlaufer about his knowledge about his past with insurance companies. Maybe he will tell you at one time he sold insurance and then again maybe he won't.
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Posted on 12 Jul 2011, 17:42 by im a sane citizen
its not arson
how do you know its arson? i was unaware we had forensic scientists living in town that actually know what they are talking about, instead of the common bullshit opinion we see all to often.
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Posted on 12 Jul 2011, 19:27 by Jim L
Duck pond.
If it looks like a duck....walks like a duck....Swims like a duck....and quacks like a duck......Chances are it's not a cat.
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Posted on 16 Jul 2011, 9:45 by A Duck
Walks like a duck.
If it walks, talks, and quacks like a Duck you can be sure Wettlaufer and company will tell the voters and everyone else it was LaMountain.
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Posted on 31 Aug 2011, 18:17 by Time for vigilante justice.
No Justice for citizens.
Well Wettlaufer and Johnson pulled it off. They got slaps on the wrists for the firefighters they appointed who betrayed the public trust by commuting arson. The firefighters all had parents who are part of the governing elites circle of protection. No jail even though they put lives at risk. If you are a public official commuting crimes in Holland there is nothing to fear. I hope Wettlaufer and his family are amongst the first to go in the citizen uprising.
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Posted on 1 Oct 2011, 5:39 by Steve123
They Deserve real Punishment
Some people are saying that these kids are not hardend criminals, but I say that the jails are filled with people who are not hardend criminals. They should be counting thier blessings that they were not sent to State Prison to be with hardend ciminals. I think they got off too easy. people could have died because of thier actions..
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