Witnesses Sought In Cda Arson Fires

Investigators are searching for two people who may have witnessed an arson fire that destroyed a midtown Coeur d’Alene business and upstairs apartment last month.

Police said Elias Hawatmeh, the building’s owner who lived in the apartment, stopped a man and a woman who were driving by shortly after he escaped his burning home.

Investigators hope both will be able to provide new details about the July 29 fire, which caused more than $100,000 damage to the apartment, a tailor shop and beauty salon. An accelerant was used to fuel the blaze, investigators said.

Hawatmeh asked a man driving a 1980s, two-door, dark-colored sedan if he had a cellular telephone with him, said Coeur d’Alene police Capt. Carl Bergh. The man, described as in his 40s and believed to be delivering newspapers, did not have a phone and left.

Hawatmeh then turned to a woman driving in a vehicle behind the man. The woman used her CB radio to ask another person to call 911, Bergh said.

A description of the woman or her vehicle were not available.

Both are asked to call the Coeur d’Alene Police Department at 769-2291 during normal business hours or at 769-2320 after hours and ask for Bergh or Sgt. Wendy Carpenter.

, DataTimes