Dwyer student accused of torching classmate's car faces 2 more 'retaliation' arson charges

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2 days ago

PALM BEACH GARDENS — An 18-year-old man accused of setting fire to a high school classmate's car in January is facing charges linked to two other incidents in which he allegedly set fire to other vehicles, according to Palm Beach Gardens Police reports.
Drake Hansen of North Palm Beach is facing two new counts of second-degree arson, in addition to one count of causing property damage with a destructive device.
Police first arrested him in February after alleging he set fire to the vehicle of his William T. Dwyer High School classmate Koden Brown, the quarterback of the school's football team, on the morning of Jan. 26 outside Brown's home in the PGA National neighborhood.
According to arrest reports made public May 30, all three arson incidents came in retaliation for a fight at a party at an undisclosed location during the summer of 2024. The latest two fires involve the vehicles of siblings who took part in the brawl.
Hansen has pleaded not guilty to the first arson charge in that case and is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge James Nutt in June. He has been free on bail following that arrest.
He returned to court May 30, one day after his most recent arrest, for his first appearance on the new charges. Palm Beach County Judge April Bristow set Hansen's bail at $13,000 for one of the new arson cases, and ordered that he be released on his own recognizance for the other.
A message left for an attorney who appeared with him in court at the Palm Beach County Jail on May 30 was not immediately returned.
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Both arson incidents leading to Hansen's May 29 arrest occurred before the alleged incident at Brown's home. Investigators traced all three acts of arson to a fight at the summer party at which the younger brother of one of Hansen's friends was reportedly beaten.
Hansen, who was a senior this past school year, also has ties to the Dwyer athletic program. He was a pitcher and outfielder for the 2024 Class 6A state championship baseball team.
Investigators did not disclose the date of the party or the address of the home where the two fires occurred. Hansen reportedly accused the siblings of harming his friend's younger brother during the fight.
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According to Hansen's arrest report, the first of the two new acts of arson occurred at about 5:15 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2024, when a white Ford F-150 pickup was burned. The second occurred at about 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 3, this time resulting in a 2022 Dodge Ram Rebel being destroyed.
In April, police arrested a 17-year-old Palm Beach Central High School student in connection with the Jan. 26 incident at PGA National, alleging he assisted Hansen in setting fire to Brown's car. Police reports indicate that the 17-year-old is the older brother of the teen who was beaten.
Another teen who traveled to that location with Hansen and the 17-year-old told investigators Hansen targeted Brown's car because he felt that Brown had "disrespected" him.
License-plate readers and surveillance cameras at businesses near PGA Boulevard and Fairway Drive recorded a silver Kia SUV driving in the area near Brown's home just before his car was set on fire, according to Hansen's arrest report. Police traced the car to Hansen, who said a friend had borrowed the car that night and that he had not been anywhere near the vehicle. Hansen later acknowledged being in the vehicle but declined further comment, the report said.
Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [e-mail] and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Teen accused of torching classmate's car facing two new arson charges