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D.C. fire captain charged with stealing book from burning home in Northwest No charges filed against D.C. fire captain after theft investigation
(12 days later)
A veteran D.C. fire captain dispatched to a two-alarm house fire in Northwest Washington Monday night has been criminally charged with stealing a book on airplanes from the burning dwelling, according to police and fire officials. No criminal charges were filed against a D.C. fire captain who had been under police investigation for taking a book from a house that caught fire March 28, authorities said.
Capt. Alan Noznesky, 50, who lives in Western Maryland near Frederick, has been placed on administrative leave, according to a D.C. fire department spokesman.Capt. Alan Noznesky, 50, who lives in Western Maryland near Frederick, has been placed on administrative leave, according to a D.C. fire department spokesman.
Dustin Sternbeck, the chief police spokesman, said Noznesky was charged in a criminal citation with second-degree theft. He was not arrested. Noznesky joined the fire department in 1991 and is assigned to an engine company in Northwest. He earns more than $105,000 a year. Dustin Sternbeck, the chief police spokesman, initially said Noznesky was charged in a criminal citation with second-degree theft. Police later said they requested that a warrant be issued for Noznesky’s arrest, but District prosecutors did not pursue the case. No criminal charge was ever filed.
In an interview Tuesday, Noznesky denied the accusation. He said he found a book near the front entrance of the burned house in the 3000 block of Gates Road, in Forest Hills, and moved it to safe location to preserve for the homeowner. The fire broke out about 7 p.m. and caused extensive damage to the house. No one was injured. Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District, said the office had reviewed the case and “does not plan to file charges.”
Noznesky joined the fire department in 1991 and is assigned to an engine company in Northwest. He earns more than $105,000 a year.
In an interview March 29, Noznesky denied the accusation. He said he found a book near the front entrance of the burned house in the 3000 block of Gates Road, in Forest Hills, and moved it to a safe location to preserve it for the homeowner. The fire broke out about 7 p.m. and caused extensive damage to the house. No one was injured.
“Try to do a good thing and get jammed,” Noznesky said. “There was a large book near the front. I move it from inside maybe 60 feet from the house. Somebody, I guess, saw that and didn’t like it. I never stole anything from there. I didn’t even know what the book was about. Why the police charged, I have no idea whatsoever. I thought I was doing the right thing.”“Try to do a good thing and get jammed,” Noznesky said. “There was a large book near the front. I move it from inside maybe 60 feet from the house. Somebody, I guess, saw that and didn’t like it. I never stole anything from there. I didn’t even know what the book was about. Why the police charged, I have no idea whatsoever. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Noznesky said that he doesn’t get along with one of the fire officials who was at the scene. He said he told the homeowner that he had saved the book. He said other expensive artwork and furniture was destroyed. The captain said he was confronted by police, the fire chief and other officials at the scene.Noznesky said that he doesn’t get along with one of the fire officials who was at the scene. He said he told the homeowner that he had saved the book. He said other expensive artwork and furniture was destroyed. The captain said he was confronted by police, the fire chief and other officials at the scene.
“I did nothing wrong,” Noznesky said.“I did nothing wrong,” Noznesky said.
The owners of the home could not be reached on Tuesday. In an interview on March 30, the owner of the home, Ronald Ginsburg, said he was in Florida at the time of the fire, but he had friends staying in the home. He said firefighters, seeing dog food and leashes, searched for his pet, which was in Florida with him.
The D.C. police report says that one person saw Nozensky “remove the listed property from inside the location, conceal the listed property in a black jacket and take the listed property to the fire engine.” “I don’t know how this firefighter helping me turned into this,” Ginsburg said. “I’m not pressing charges. I’m not aware of any theft. I mean, these firefighters, they go back into a burning building to rescue a dog that is not there. I’m beyond grateful. How relieved I am that no one was hurt.”
The D.C. police report says that one person saw Noznesky “remove the listed property from inside the location, conceal the listed property in a black jacket and take the listed property to the fire engine.”
The report says the book was titled, “Airline Visual Identity: 1945-1975.” Its publisher describes the book as chronicling airlines through advertising campaigns. Police estimate its worth at $100.The report says the book was titled, “Airline Visual Identity: 1945-1975.” Its publisher describes the book as chronicling airlines through advertising campaigns. Police estimate its worth at $100.
Ginsburg said he had picked up the book at a gift shop and used it as a coffee table book.