UPDATE: Pike fugitive dead after Florida car chase

Convicted arsonist commits suicide to end police pursuit Deerfield Beach, Fla. — A former Hemlock Farms resident, George William Simonson, 69, killed himself Wednesday evening after leading police in Broward County, Fla. on an extended highway chase. According to a statement from the Pike County District Attorney’s office, the chase began shortly after 7 p.m. in Wilton Manors, Fla. A Wilton Manors police officer was checking license plate numbers and noticed that the plates on the vehicle operated by Simonson were registered to a fugitive. Detective David C. Jones of the Wilton Manor’s Police Department, Simonson’s vehicle was stopped but then Simonson restarted the vehicle and fled. Police pursued the vehicle and approximately 20 minutes later the chase ended in Deerfield Beach, Fla, where Simonson stopped and then shot himself in the head. According to another published report, he later died at the North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach. Simonson attempted to burn down his former residence in Hemlock Farms through the use of seven delayed ignition devices and gallons of gasoline meticulously placed throughout the home. On Dec. 29, 2007, in a joint effort between the state police from Blooming Grove and Dunmore, the state police bomb unit, Hemlock Farms Security and Hemlock Farms Fire and Rescue Company, the residence was discovered before ignition occurred. Pike Assistant District Attorney Sarah Lavelle tried the case. She said burning cigarettes had been attached to books of matches, which were the bases for trails of gasoline fuses leading to gasoline cans planted throughout the house and a parked vehicle. Lavelle said a suspicious neighbor called authorities, who found the devices intact, because the cigarettes had gone out before reaching the matchbooks. “The fire marshal was amazed that the house had not burned, as I imagine was Mr. Simonson.” Through their investigation the police discovered a witness, who was told by the defendant earlier in December that he intended to burn the residence down. At trial, Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall Stephen Kaneski told the jury that if the fire ignited the residence it would have been “prolific in nature and endangered neighbors and responders.” Simonson, who was free on bail at the time of his trial, was present in the Pike County Courthouse for his first day of trial on Nov. 18, 2008. However, he did not appear for a second day. On Nov. 19, a jury found Simonson guilty of the felony offenses: Attempt to Commit Arson Endangering Persons and Causing or Risking a Catastrophe, and a misdemeanor offense of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. After the jury verdict, Judge Joseph Kameen revoked Simonson’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The Pike County Sheriffs Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pike County Detective’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations were actively pursuing Simonson following his conviction and unlawful flight. On Jan. 8,, President Judge Kameen sentenced Simonson in his absence. When captured, he faced state prison time of four to 12 years, in addition to a fine of $15,000. “George Simonson’s crimes here in Pike County and actions (Wednesday) in Florida demonstrate the significant threat he posed to the public. It is very fortunate that the police chase and Simonson’s unlawful possession of a gun ended without any injury to law enforcement and innocent citizens,” Lavelle concluded.