Bricelyn Street fire suspect released

Nov. 19--Greg Brown Jr. walked out of the Allegheny County Jail on Friday evening. It was the first time the 39-year-old was free from custody of the state since 1996, when he was charged with setting a fire at his home in East Hills that killed three Pittsburgh firefighters.

Mr. Brown won a new trial in 2014 after his attorneys argued that his original conviction on charges of second-degree murder, arson and insurance fraud in 1997 was marred by prosecutorial misconduct.

They presented evidence that two witnesses were offered reward money by federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents and then told to deny it on the stand.

The Allegheny County District Attorney's office appealed the decision for a new trial, but it was affirmed by an appellate court. The case was scheduled for retrial in Common Pleas Court in January, but in a surprise move, the U.S. Attorney's office presented the case to a federal grand jury, which handed up an indictment earlier this month charging Mr. Brown with malicious destruction of property by fire resulting in death. That prompted the DA's office to withdraw its case against him.

Earlier this week, a federal judge said Mr. Brown could be freed on bond pending trial.

He was greeted at the jail by his attorneys and several family members. He hugged his mother, Darlene Buckner, and they walked out with their arms around each other.

"I'm innocent. I'm happy to be out. I'm innocent," Mr. Brown said. "A lot of people don't get this opportunity."

"This is a moment I've been waiting for for a long time," his mother said.

Mr. Brown praised his attorneys and thanked the firefighters who fought the blaze on Bricelyn Street the night of Feb. 14, 1995.

"I want everybody to know, me and my family, nobody, had anything to do with this," Mr. Brown said. "This wasn't even an arson."

His attorney, Dave Fawcett, stopped Mr. Brown, citing the pending trial.

"We've said from day one it was a tragedy, and we pray for the families of the firefighters," Mr. Fawcett said. "One tragedy should not beget another."

Killed in the fire were Thomas Brooks, 42, Patricia Conroy, 43, and Marc Kolenda, 27.

Mr. Fawcett said his client would have been released much sooner had the government not attempted to cover up the ATF's actions.

"What happened here was a result of government misconduct. It should never have happened."

He added, "As the lawyer, I've given him the advice to enjoy his time. God bless him and the time he's going to have with his family."

Paula Reed Ward: [email protected], 412-263-2620 or on Twitter: @PaulaReedWard.

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