OR Man Faces Death Penalty For Setting Fire that Killed Two Firefighters

The trial, slated to begin on April 3, could last three weeks or longer and will include a sentencing phase if Mr. Abou-Arab is found guilty. 

Robert Miller, chief of the criminal division of the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, revealed he plans to file a motion to have the jury brought to the scene of the alleged crime. 

In April 2015, Toledo fire union officials and top department administrators were at odds over whether the decision to eliminate a full-time safety officer in 2012 had contributed to the deaths of the two firefighters.

“The leader of this department, Chief Santiago, for two years, had a flawed system,” Local 92 President Jeff Romstadt told The Blade. “We brought it to his attention. … He needs to be held accountable for the decisions he made that are contributing factors in two firefighters’ deaths.”

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released a federal report that had outlined the deaths of Pvts. Stephen Machcinski and James “Jamie” Dickman.

Mr. Romstadt said the elimination of a full-time safety officer in 2012 made working conditions for Toledo firefighters unsafe.

Toledo fire Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld, a department spokesman, said the safety officer position was not eliminated, but changed and “enhanced.”