PHOENIX (AP) -- Authorities raided the homes of two Phoenix firefighters arrested this week in an arson-for-hire plot. A search warrant was also served at the home of the reported victim.
Maricopa County sheriff's deputies served search warrants Thursday morning at the Phoenix homes of Joseph D. Avey, 34, and Christopher Bishop, 36. Both men, as well as another former city firefighter, were arrested in connection with the Dec. 20 arson of a $1.5 million Peoria home under construction.
The trio was believed to have burned the 10,000-square-foot home at the behest of a fourth firefighter, who worked for the suburb of Peoria and ran a construction business as a second job, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Tuesday.
The contractor conspired with the trio because the family building the home hadn't paid him in full, Arpaio said.
Items were seized from both firefighters' homes Thursday, but detectives would not provide information about what was taken, sheriff's Sgt. Paul Chagolla said.
Meanwhile, deputies also conducted a search at the residence of arson victim Betty Johnson on Thursday.
The sheriff's office said detectives seized items in connection with a fraud case. Chagolla wouldn't say if the suspected fraud is linked to the arson case, or what was taken from Johnson's current home.
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