Investigators arrest four, seek two in firebombing

Tom Gardner

Monday, Dec. 6, 1999 | 10:11 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - An investigation that focused on white supremacists resulted with the arrests of four people in Tuesday's firebombing of a Jewish synagogue and warrants being issued for two others.

The department's gang unit received information through Secret Witness and worked with federal agents, the sheriff's department and the Reno fire department to track down the suspects.

"It would be classified as a hate crime," Lt. Jake Wiskerschen of the gang unit said on Monday.

He said the tips to Secret Witness led them to seek out white supremacists and hate literature was found during two searches conducted in connection with the arrests.

"It was very hateful and against anybody that isn't of their race," Wiskerschen said. "In this particular case, they targeted the Jewish synagogue."

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a window of Temple Emanu El Tuesday evening. The glass shattered, but the makeshift bomb failed to break through the window. Instead, it bounced onto the asphalt and singed bricks under the window. No one was hurt.

Those arrested are Christopher Hampton, 22, of Reno, Scott Hudson, 23, of Sacramento, Calif., Joshua Kudlacek, 18, of Reno and a 17-year-old Reno woman.

Police were seeking Daniel McIntosh, 39, and Carl DeAmicus, 25.

It was the third incident at the temple this year. Earlier, rocks were thrown through two stained-glass windows, and a replacement window was egged.

Wiskerschen said the current suspects probably were not involved in those incidents because they apparently were not in the area at that time.

FBI Special Agent Joseph Dickey said from Las Vegas that any possible connection to summer's torching of three synagogues in Sacramento would be investigated.

"We are looking into that possibility and any other links. We have not ruled anything out," he said.

Four years ago, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the temple in Reno. No one was arrested in that case.

Deputy Reno Police Chief Jim Weston said there were 12 hate crimes in Reno in 1998 and 13 so far in 1999. He said investigators have not linked them.