DPS releases video in Governor's Mansion fire

DPS releases video in Governor's Mansion fire By KELLEY SHANNON Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas Department of Public Safety, seeking the public's help in capturing an arsonist who burned the Governor's Mansion, released snippets of video Tuesday showing a potential suspect in the June fire.

The DPS surveillance video shows a man walking on the sidewalk behind the mansion before the blaze and then a man running from the downtown Austin mansion about three minutes later. Investigators say it may be the same person, but they aren't sure.

"We're asking for anybody who may know this person, may see a particular trait in the person that they know, if they'll reach out and contact us," said Lt. Alvin Alexis of the Texas Rangers,  coordinator of the arson investigation for the agency.

The person walking behind the mansion was carrying something that looks like a bag. He was wearing a baseball cap with Texas Longhorns logo, a dark short-sleeve shirt and long dark pants. The person running away from the mansion was wearing similar clothing, Alexis said. The second image is more difficult to see.

Alexis said the portions of the video being released are those investigators have best been able to clarify. The DPS has not released video of the fire itself, though news video of the fire has been televised.

Prosecutors in the Travis County District Attorney's Office do not want other parts of the surveillance video released, Alexis said.

In other unreleased video, described by fire marshal investigators and noted a DPS report issued Monday, someone can be seen throwing a Molotov cocktail at the mansion at 1:27 a.m. the morning of the June 8 fire.

Gov. Rick Perry and his family were not living in the home when the fire broke out because it was undergoing a $10 million renovation and maintenance. One state trooper was guarding the building when the fire occurred.

News organizations have asked for Governor's Mansion surveillance video since the day of the fire that severely damaged the 152-year-old mansion. But DPS officials have refused to release it, citing the pending criminal investigation.

"We have been working on other leads," Alexis said, when asked why no video or photos have been shown to the public until now. "We have probably about 200 leads that we have been working on, and we've also been working on the quality of the video."

The other leads, including scores of telephone tips, haven't been fruitful, he said.

He asked that anyone with information about the person or people in the video call the DPS at 512-506-2849; 512-506-2861; 512-506-2862; or 1-800-252-TIPS.

A $50,000 reward offered earlier in the summer remains in place.

Investigators aren't suggesting any particular motive for the fire, Alexis said. However, a week after the fire Texas Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado said someone angry with the government may have set the fire.

The state fire marshal's office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also are working the case.

Alexis downplayed the idea that investigators are under unusually intense pressure to solve the crime, but he said they do want to find the culprit.

"Yes, it is the Texas Governor's Mansion, and, yes, we are working diligently. A number of agencies work on it. But we do that on a lot of investigations," he said.