Probe of Nageezi fire under way
FBI may get involved in investigation
By Brian Hassler - Staff Writer

NAGEEZI — Authorities had to wait until late Friday evening for what was left of the Nageezi Chapter House to cool off before launching an investigation into the cause a fire that razed the 10,000 square foot building.

The FBI may become involved in the investigation because of the suspicious circumstances of the fire, which began late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

"Right now, the FBI hasn't begun an investigation and isn't officially involved in this situation because we're waiting for the site to cool down so that it's safe for investigators and fire department officials to see if they can figure out the source of the fire," said Bill Elwell, FBI special agent.

"They should be working on that tonight (Friday) and it should be cool enough in the morning for the investigators to get started," Elwell added.

Firefighters from San Juan County were called on the scene Thursday at 1 a.m. and had the fire under control by 5 a.m. but the building was considered to be a total loss with the costs of damages currently unknown.

A statement released by Nageezi Chapter President Calvert Garcia, points to a suspicion that the fire wasn't accidental and that Nageezi has dealt with instances of vandalism and that the community was in distress.

Because of the fire, Nageezi chapter officials will make use of the multi-center in Nageezi for chapter meetings while a telephone number and fax machine should be available soon.

Garcia also called for tribal assistance and community support to allow the chapter to rebuild its facilities in a quicker period of time.

"By collaborating with available resources, the Nageezi community can rise above this devastating event and become a stronger community," Garcia said in a press release.

Calls to the office of the president and vice president of the Navajo Nation concerning what could be done to support the Nageezi chapter were not returned on Friday. Calls to Garcia's phone weren't returned as of Friday.

Elwell did confirm that by next week enough information should be available to allow the FBI to decide whether or not it wanted to actively pursue an investigation.

"At the moment there is no official investigation," said Elwell. "Once fire department investigators can look at the scene safely and figure out the source of the fire, then the FBI can decide whether or not it wants to investigate."

Nageezi chapter officials turned over almost all the documents requested by the Navajo Nation's Office of Ethics and Rules before a fire destroyed the chapter house, according to office director Virgil Brown Jr.

"Very few" documents remain outstanding, Brown said, including records that chapter officials did not have at the time of the request. Brown said several documents were sought from third parties, such as banks.

The tribe's Office of Ethics and Rules received an 18-page handwritten complaint, dated Feb. 22, from a group of Nageezi voters. The complaint accuses several current and former chapter officials of misconduct and misuse of funds.

Tribal Council delegate LoRenzo Bates said the complaint accuses the chapter of not turning over documents necessary to investigate the claims. As a result of that accusation, a show-cause hearing was held March 8.

At that meeting, tribal officials determined the chapter had provided at least 90 percent of the requested documents, Bates said, with a deadline to supply the remaining records. Garcia said the request was met.

"All needed documents were turned into the Navajo Nation Ethics and Rules," Garcia said in a news release.

Anyone with information concerning the fire should contact Crimestoppers at (505) 334-TIPS.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.