|
|
|
Konawa police arrested nine people Sunday after a tip from “concerned citizens” led authorities to a group of suspects police believe started two house fires, torched a dumpster and broke into a convenience store during a weekend crime spree that caused thousands of dollars in damage to the Seminole County town.
Local resident, 32-year-old Brandon Johnson — the only adult who remains jailed in relation to the weekend incidents — is being held at the Seminole County Jail in Wewoka, where he faces a litany of complaints, including second-degree arson, contributing to the delinquency of minor, possession of marijuana and burglary. Johnson’s bond was set at $100,000 and more charges are likely to follow, Konawa Police Chief Brad Morgan said Monday afternoon.
Another adult was arrested following the initial investigation on Sunday, but Morgan said the man was released due to lack of evidence linking him to the crimes. Konawa Police Officer David Knaggs said the seven juveniles arrested in connection with the crimes have since been turned over to the proper authorities following the group’s court appearance on Monday.
Knaggs said the first signs of trouble showed up at around 11:45 p.m. Saturday when authorities were called to a dumpster fire behind the Dollar General on North Broadway. Later, around 3 a.m. Sunday, a vacant rental property at 509 W. First St. was set on fire and burned well into the morning, Knaggs said.
“The Konawa Fire Department did an amazing job keeping that fire from spreading,” Knaggs said. “Some of the other houses were only about 20 feet away, so it very easily could have spread to three or four other homes.”
While authorities were dealing with the first house fire, Knaggs said McClure’s, a convenience store located at SH 39 and North Broadway, was broken into around 4:30 a.m. Shortly after the break-in, another vacant rental home on First Street — just a few blocks to the east — was set on fire around 5 a.m., he said.
“We believe the fires, at least the first two, were diversions for the break-in at McClure’s,” Knaggs said.
Morgan and Knaggs said the suspects weren’t able to get any cash from the convenience store but took loads of cigarettes, beer, canned tobacco and other fineries one can grab in a place like McClure’s. As of Monday afternoon, Morgan said around 75 percent of the stolen merchandise had been recovered following the arrests of the nine suspects on Sunday.
Konawa police arrested nine people Sunday after a tip from “concerned citizens” led authorities to a group of suspects police believe started two house fires, torched a dumpster and broke into a convenience store during a weekend crime spree that caused thousands of dollars in damage to the Seminole County town.
Local resident, 32-year-old Brandon Johnson — the only adult who remains jailed in relation to the weekend incidents — is being held at the Seminole County Jail in Wewoka, where he faces a litany of complaints, including second-degree arson, contributing to the delinquency of minor, possession of marijuana and burglary. Johnson’s bond was set at $100,000 and more charges are likely to follow, Konawa Police Chief Brad Morgan said Monday afternoon.
Another adult was arrested following the initial investigation on Sunday, but Morgan said the man was released due to lack of evidence linking him to the crimes. Konawa Police Officer David Knaggs said the seven juveniles arrested in connection with the crimes have since been turned over to the proper authorities following the group’s court appearance on Monday.
Knaggs said the first signs of trouble showed up at around 11:45 p.m. Saturday when authorities were called to a dumpster fire behind the Dollar General on North Broadway. Later, around 3 a.m. Sunday, a vacant rental property at 509 W. First St. was set on fire and burned well into the morning, Knaggs said.
“The Konawa Fire Department did an amazing job keeping that fire from spreading,” Knaggs said. “Some of the other houses were only about 20 feet away, so it very easily could have spread to three or four other homes.”
While authorities were dealing with the first house fire, Knaggs said McClure’s, a convenience store located at SH 39 and North Broadway, was broken into around 4:30 a.m. Shortly after the break-in, another vacant rental home on First Street — just a few blocks to the east — was set on fire around 5 a.m., he said.
“We believe the fires, at least the first two, were diversions for the break-in at McClure’s,” Knaggs said.
Morgan and Knaggs said the suspects weren’t able to get any cash from the convenience store but took loads of cigarettes, beer, canned tobacco and other fineries one can grab in a place like McClure’s. As of Monday afternoon, Morgan said around 75 percent of the stolen merchandise had been recovered following the arrests of the nine suspects on Sunday.
Knaggs said both homes, estimated to be worth a combined $40,000, were a total loss. He said the arrests were made after police followed up on a tip given to authorities at the scene of the first house fire, which was still smoking Monday afternoon.
“While we were at the first fire, a couple of concerned citizens gave us a tip of who might be involved,” Knaggs said. “We acted on it immediately and were able to make the arrests the same day.”
Morgan said the arrests over the weekend may also lead to other charges on some unsolved cases in the area.
“We are approximately a quarter of the way through this investigation now,” he said. “We gathered information during the investigation that related to other unsolved cases in the city, so the investigation is not over.”
Check back for more details as they become available.
---
Andrew Knittle may be reached at 214-3926.
