(Photo: WBOC)ONANCOCK, Va.- With the number of arson fires in Accomack County having grown to 62 as of Tuesday night, one individual is taking his own steps to try and uncover whoever is behind these crimes.
Bill Dyas is an Accomack County resident. He spent 33 years as a military police officer and another five as a firefighter. He recently returned on Accomack County after years on the West Coast and said that all he has heard about since his return are the arson fires.
"I kind of have got an interest in looking at it and putting a fresh look with an old set of eyes and see what I see."
Dyas sad it is not intention to get in the way of any investigations or tamper with a crime scene. He says he has visited a few of the recent fires and tried to pick up on some of the little details.
"I kind of look at some of the roads and what is near them. What's an avenue of approach, what's an avenue of exit. Vehicle tracks, foot tracks. What looks right and what doesn't look right."
Officials from Virginia State Police say while they understand people's desire to have these arsons stop, they would not encourage someone to take matters into their own hands. But some local residents don't mind the extra set of eyes on the lookout for the arsonist.
"Somebody has got to get him. And it is good that he is trying to get him. You know, maybe if everybody else out here did the same thing, maybe we'd get him sooner or later.
Ending this spree of arsons sooner rather than later is the ultimate goal and one in which Dyas is trying to do his part.
