July 16--ST. LOUIS -- Police say they are looking for a man seen wearing latex gloves and standing outside a burning law office early Monday morning in St. Louis.
Police say newspaper deliverers spotted the man standing outside a burning law office building at 4647 South Hampton Avenue about 3:40 a.m. The fire started in the office's lower level and caused extensive damage. No one was inside the office at the time of the fire.
According to police, the man remarked to the deliverers how large the fire had gotten and suggested someone call the fire department. When one of the deliverymen began calling 911 from a cell phone, the suspected arsonist disappeared.
Police responded and began looking for him. Police found a gasoline can at the fire scene and suspect the man may have used gasoline to start the blaze.
Police brought dogs to search for the suspect but lost track of him east of Hampton Avenue, in part, because the deliverers tried searching for the suspect themselves and threw the dogs off the scent.
The law office is that of Susan Frederick, a family attorney, police say. A sign outside the office says lists Deborah Lake as an attorney in the office. Neither Frederick nor Lake could be reached early Monday.
This is a developing story. Check back to STLtoday.com for updates.
Joel Currier covers breaking news for STLtoday.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Copyright 2012 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
