** Washington DC police investigating ambulance fires
** Former New Jersey EMT pleads guilty to child porn charges
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Metro Police in Washington D.C. are keeping relatively mum on a pair of Tuesday ambulance fires, but say both are now under investigation. That is the word from DCist.com (Sarah Ann Hughes/August 14) which said the blazes, occurring three hours apart, may require expert assistance to determine if arson was involved. According to the news site, DC Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Paul Quander refused to categorically call the fires criminal. The announcement comes after a photo released by the DC Firefighters Association shows an ambulance engine with a parking sign wedged into the motor acting as a sort of heat shield. Information attached to the photo alleges not arson, but neglect and improper vehicle maintenance. In another EMS foul-up this week, the ambulance tasked with accompanying President Obama ran out of fuel. Although Quander blamed medics for failing to fill it up, others said the vehicle had an ongoing problem with a broken fuel gauge.
** A former volunteer New Jersey EMT has pleaded guilty to child porn charges. The Republic (AP/August 14) said Newton resident Robert Mucha, who had also previously taught band to Belleville and Lakewood teens, appeared in court Tuesday. Mucha, 57, was charged last year. Along with downloading offensive images, he apparently escalated his behaviour by luring a teenaged boy to his home for sexual purposes. Amongst evidence presented in the case were chat room transcripts allegedly containing references to cannibalizing children. Sentencing has not yet been set.
