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Items taken from inside the McCrossen Building, which burned down in November 2012, have begun to show up online. (Photo: KIRO Radio/Brandi Kruse)

Everett firefighter investigated as items from burned down building end up for sale online

BY Brandi Kruse  on March 18, 2013 @ 8:42 pm (Updated: 2:34 pm - 3/19/13 )

An Everett firefighter is on paid administrative leave after an accusation that valuable items from a burned down building ended up in his possession, KIRO Radio has learned.

A portion of the McCrossen Building, a two-story brick building located on Hewitt Avenue across from the Comcast Arena, burned down in November 2012. The 119-year-old structure was left so unstable that vendors were never allowed back inside to salvage items that may have survived the blaze.

But a woman who once sold vintage and antique items out of a shop on the first floor of the building says her items began to surface on Craigslist earlier this month.

"It's just wrong," said the woman, who estimates she had $20,000 worth of valuables inside The Spare Room Vintage Flea Market when the fire broke out. The items were not insured, she said.

She spoke to KIRO Radio on the condition of anonymity.

The woman called police on March 12 to report the items that she found online, which included a brass cherub lamp valued at $125.00 and a gold nightstand that she hand-painted and priced at $69.00.

Police told the woman to respond to the ad and she and her husband made arrangements to see the items in person. Officers then followed the woman to a residence on Grand Avenue where she went inside posing as an interested buyer.

"I noticed not only the two items that were on Craigslist of mine, but three more items of others vendors at the Spare Room in there and then a lamp that was not for sale but that they were using on their TV stand," said the woman, who claims the lamp belonged to her father and was worth $75.00.

According to a police report that was obtained by KIRO Radio and filed by the woman Monday afternoon, the man selling the items was an Everett firefighter who helped battle the McCrossen blaze. According to the woman, he claimed to have purchased the valuables from someone on the street for $300.

"He said if I wanted my items back I had to buy them back," she said. "He goes, ‘my wife has spent hours cleaning mold off these items.'"

She said the man and his wife let her take one of the lamps but refused to return the other items.

Her version of events has not been corroborated by the police department. Attempts to contact the firefighter at his home in Everett Monday afternoon were not successful.

Kate Reardon, a spokesperson for the city of Everett, told KIRO Radio that the firefighter was placed on paid leave this week after a complaint was filed. Reardon stressed that paid leave does not amount to discipline and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

"At this point in time Everett police are investigating the situation and at this time it's too early to come to any kind of conclusion," Reardon said.

Although entry is prohibited, Reardon said police have investigated several reports of people going into the building to loot items.

"We do know that we have had complaints of activity there," she said. "We have received complaints that people have entered the building on various occasions unauthorized."

Peter Sikov, the building's owner, said he is a friend of the firefighter who has been placed on paid leave and does not believe he personally retrieved the items that he posted on Craigslist.

"I know him to be a person of very high character who has absolutely no reason to engage in criminal activity," Sikov said.

Fire investigators never determined the exact cause of the blaze, which claimed the life of a man who lived on the second floor. The building was supposed to be demolished by March 15, but Sikov missed the deadline.

Sue Ludwig, who owned the The Spare Room Vintage Flea Market, said the combined value of items being sold by vendors in her shop totaled roughly $100,000.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (9)


  • Add A Comment

  • sportsguru wrote...
    More government corruptions
    March 18, 2013 9:44 pm
    And the damage control, uh well, cover up is in full force.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    firefighter in question?
    March 18, 2013 10:03 pm
    fess up Boo Hoo!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    but he is a well paid hero
    March 18, 2013 10:19 pm
    he couldn't have done it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • nikki88 wrote...
    just wait
    March 19, 2013 10:26 am
    the fireman was aggressive, would not give the items back and said in front of police that he is working with the owner of the building. Just because someone is in a position of respect in the community doesn't mean they deserve it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    firefighter in question?
    March 19, 2013 2:44 am
    Of course. The moment that I saw this all I could think of was the poster child girl of the left and her stupid comments like this.

    Fear not Crack Head, I have stolen nothing and never will.

    I do know where you can get some really good "Shake" for a steal though................

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    More things in common than not.
    March 19, 2013 3:50 am
    Tax dollars at work. Bellevue P D, Seattle narc cop rearending car while in co. car drunk, with open bottle, this article. and many many more that are still under wraps. What level are they held too ????????. They think they are the above the law, and are treated that way. In the real world, FIRED in a second. By the way, they are very important, the jobs they have. Lets treat it like a job, and not an entitlement.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ontos wrote...
    Another professional looter
    March 19, 2013 7:04 am
    On the public payroll.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    By the way, they are very important, the jobs they have. Lets treat it like a job, and not an entitlement.
    March 19, 2013 8:23 am
    Respectfully Murr, have you ever been a Police officer or a Firefighter? There is no entitlement there. Even with a Union. We take tests almost daily. We drill every shift. We have to understand the legality of why we do what we do and what can happen if we don't or do it to the letter of the law.

    Entry level testing for police and firefighters is grueling. You are up against hundreds of other guys just like you and there for the same reason establishing an eligibility list or all those guys testing for 2 to 5 openings.

    If this guy DID steal these items then I will be the first heard to demand he be fired. This hurts all firefighters. People who you call and let into your home in the time of emergency. We need your total trust!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }