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4 days ago
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Dwyer student accused of torching classmate's car faces 2 more 'retaliation' arson charges
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. Fatal shooting: West Palm Beach police: Juvenile killed was recording social-media video 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. Courts: Trump pardons Jupiter shark divers who destroyed fisherman's line, released catch 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 jwhigham@ 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
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Congratulations Class of 2025! William T. Dwyer High School graduation photos
Congratulations, class of 2025! It's that time again for the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance" as high school seniors at William T. Dwyer High School collect their diplomas at the school's graduation ceremony, held Wednesday, May 14, at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Years of hard work in the classroom and commitment to learning even as the pandemic turned the world upside down characterize this year's senior class. Among them are entrepreneurs, award-winning inventors, standout athletes, and published authors. They will take their next steps in the world as technology and artificial intelligence advance at lightning speeds, and the last four years of their lives have taught them how to adapt no matter the circumstances. ➤ Capturing high school graduations: The Palm Beach Post photographs your graduations because we're proud, too ➤ Congratulations Class of 2025! Graduation galleries from Palm Beach County schools Want more education news? Sign up for our Extra Credit weekly newsletter, delivered every Friday to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Class of 2025 William T. Dwyer High School graduation photos
Yahoo
06-02-2025
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Arson at PGA National: Dwyer senior felt 'disrespected,' torched classmate's car, police say
(This story was updated to add new information.) PALM BEACH GARDENS — An 18-year-old William T. Dwyer High School student set fire to a classmate's car outside his home in PGA National late one night last month, Palm Beach Gardens police alleged in arresting him late Wednesday. Drake Hansen of North Palm Beach is facing a charge of second-degree arson in the Jan. 26 fire at the residence of Koden Brown, a quarterback on the Panthers' football team, according to court documents. The fire totaled Brown's 2024 Volkswagen Jetta and put homes in his neighborhood along Glengarry Road at risk. Police said in Hansen's arrest report that a person who traveled to the house that night with him said Hansen believed Brown "had disrespected him" but offered no details about why. Her name was Linda Campitelli: Body found on Lyons Road was Wellington Regional nurse "Investigators determined this was an intentional and targeted case of arson," Palm Beach Gardens police said in a prepared statement. A judge on Thursday morning set Hansen's bail at $20,000 and appointed a public defender to represent him during a hearing at the Palm Beach County Jail, according to online court records. As a policy, the county Public Defender's Office does not comment on open cases. Online records indicate Hansen pitches and plays outfield and first base for Dwyer. He was a member of the schools Class 6A state championship team last year. Police ask that anyone with information about the fire to contact them at (561) 799-4445. They say the investigation remains open and that officers may make more arrests "as the investigation unfolds." This is a breaking story. Check back to for updates. Sign up for our Post on Palm Beach Gardens weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@ Support local journalism: Subscribe today. Tom Elia is an editor at The Palm Beach Post, overseeing coverage of public safety, the courts and Palm Beach County's northern and western communities. You can reach him at telia@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Gardens police arrest Dwyer High student in car fire
