Members of Mayday-Mob Arrested in Connection with Washington Arson Fires

March 31, 2008

Two promising young skateboarders from Yakima County, Washington have been arrested and charged in connection with a string of arson fires. Investigators are now trying to determine if another arson fire, set just days after the two suspects were arrested, is connected to the young men’s skating group, identified in court documents as the "Mayday-Mob."

"It’s kind of coincidental that early this morning we have a fire and they made two arrests earlier during the week. So I think there's still more to come," West Valley Fire Chief Dave Leitch said in a March 30 interview with KNDO.com.

According to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, the previous arson cases, dating back to April 2006, caused nearly $100,000 in damages. Investigators said they began investigating the two teens, identified in court documents as Nicholas Heilman, 18, and Eric Protsman, 19, after an informant came forward and identified them as the arsonists.

Last week Heilman was arraigned on five counts of second-degree arson for fires set between April 2006 and October 2007. Days later, Protsman was charged with one count of second-degree arson...

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