Retired NYPD Officers Capture Alleged Arsonist During Visit to Martin Luther King Jr's Birth Home
Retired NYPD cops receive Outstanding Citizens Awards for apprehending a 26-year-old woman who attempted to set fire to the historic birth home of Dr Martin Luther King Jr Their heroic efforts in safeguarding this iconic landmark were recognized and honored by the NYPD
Kenneth Dodson and his younger brother Axel paid a visit to the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta on Thursday to capture a moment in a photograph. In a brief moment, it felt as though the retired New York City Police Department officers were back on duty when someone alerted them that a woman had attempted to set fire to the late civil rights leader's historic home.
"What do you think? Should we chase her?" Axel Dodson asked his brother.
"Yea, lets get her," Kenneth said.
The duo quickly caught the suspected arsonist and returned her to the crime scene. "I once made an arrest with my younger brother," shared Kenneth Dodson at an NYPD event where the brothers were recognized with Outstanding Citizens Awards.
"We encourage people to speak up when they notice something suspicious," stated NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella. "These individuals not only observed something, but took action. For this, we applaud and express our gratitude."
The birth home of Martin Luther King Jr. is seen along Auburn Avenue at the Martin Luther King Historic Site in Atlanta on October 1, 2013.
Erik S Lesser/EPA/Shutterstock
The birth home of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta was spared from burning to the ground, thanks to the efforts of Good Samaritans, according to officials. According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, the Dodson brothers were credited with saving a significant piece of American history.
"The Dodsons may have been off duty that day, but they quickly stepped up to help," Chell reported. Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry credited the Dodsons, along with several other bystanders, with likely preventing the home from being completely destroyed by the fire.
DeBerry told CNN affiliate WSB that it was mere seconds before the house was consumed by flames. According to a statement from the Atlanta Police Department, officers responded to a vandalism report at the historic home in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. It was reported that multiple individuals had detained a 26-year-old woman after she had poured gasoline on the property.
WSB reported that Zach Kempf saw a woman pouring gas on the house. Kempf, a visitor from Utah, intervened and stopped her from lighting a lighter. "It was a bit frightening for a moment because we didn't know who she was. We didn't know if she was carrying any weapons. We didn't know anything," Kempf explained.
Kempf and a fellow tourist from Utah alerted the Dobson brothers, according to WSB. Kenneth Dodson remembered that he and his brother had initially intended to take a photo at the King home, but they quickly jumped into action after hearing about the attempted arson and spotting the woman fleeing the scene.
Martin Luther King jr. was born and lived the first 12 years of his life in this home in Atlanta, according to the National Park Service,
David Goldman/AP
"I said Im not chasing anybody," Kenneth Dobson recalled with a smile. "Ill get in the car and go after her but Im not running after anybody."
The ex-officers pursued the woman in their cars before Axel sprinted after her on foot. Meanwhile, Kenneth stayed behind to keep watch on his brother.
Shouting at the woman, who had managed to climb onto a fence, the brothers ordered her to come down. They quickly caught up to her and escorted her back to the King home. Axel restrained her until the Atlanta police arrived.
Atlanta police have arrested and charged a woman, who remains unidentified by CNN, with attempted arson and interference with government property. She is currently being held at the Fulton County Jail. A spokesperson for the Navy, Cmdr. Andrew Bertucci, confirmed that the woman is a US Navy veteran who served for four years before leaving in 2020.
"Your policing instincts never fade, no matter how long you've been away," stated Kenneth Dobson on Saturday. He recounted a recent visit to Atlanta with his brother, reflecting on their father's query about whether they still felt the pull of law enforcement, even after so many years. Kenneth, a police academy graduate from 1984, found himself considering the question.
Kenneth told his father he did miss it, both for the adrenaline rush and the chance to help people.
But the best part of reliving those days, he said, was doing it with his brother.
Kenneth Dodson fondly remembered the day when he and his brother Axel finally worked together for a day, years after he had hoped for it. It all started when Axel wore his older brother's floppy police hat on the day of his graduation from the academy. "From that moment on, he always said, 'I want to do this too,'" Kenneth Dodson said, who was working in the NYPDs transportation bureau at the time.
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Kinsella and Chell awarded the brothers for their exemplary "commitment, selflessness, and exceptional service," as stated by the chief of patrol. The National Park Service reported that there is no indication of permanent damage to the historic home.
The strong smell of gasoline needed to be removed, according to Ash Phillips, a historical architect with the National Park Service who spoke with CNN. Crews were careful to keep any potential sparks away from the home, which Phillips described as an "irreplaceable resource".
The Kings birth home, where Martin Luther King Jr. was born and lived for the first 12 years of his life, is a well-visited historical site that offers tours, as stated by the National Park Service. However, tours have been temporarily suspended until November 2025 for rehabilitation work.
The Kings' parents moved into their home in 1926 after getting married, as stated by the National Park Service. Years later, they moved to another home in Atlanta. Following King's assassination in 1968, the house underwent restoration to become a historic museum.
The nonprofit organization, The King Center, founded by King's wife, released a statement expressing gratitude to the bystanders and the police.
The statement expressed gratitude for the brave intervention of good Samaritans and the quick response of law enforcement, which prevented the attempt from being successful. It also mentioned that prayers are with the individual who allegedly committed the crime. Axel Dobson, a retired NYPDs patrol service bureau member, expressed relief that they were all there to prevent the incident.
CNNs Dave Alsup and Aya Elamroussi contributed to this report.
