Enid Police say arson suspects are caught on tape

Thursday, March 16th 2006, 8:32 am

By: News On 6

ENID, OKla. (AP) -- Police say two arson suspects are in jail after one of them accidentally hit the wrong button on a cell phone, giving 911 dispatchers a detailed account of a plot to set a vehicle on fire.

Enid Police Captain Jim Nivison says dispatchers listened for about four hours to the two Enid natives as they drove across town, plotting to steal an acquaintance's car and burn it up.

Johnny Ray Miller and Robert -A-Patterson were arrested on complaints of third-degree arson and conspiracy complaints.

Nivison says police had to rely on hints from the suspects' conversation because Enid doesn't have the capability to trace the location of cell phones.

Authorities say the suspects did set the passenger and rear seats of the car on fire before police were able to locate the crime scene.

However, the owner of the car was able to extinguish the flames after hearing the commotion outside his home.