Suspect caught in latest downtown fire

On Oct. 17, at 8:34 a.m., Atlanta Fire Department was dispatched to a fire located at 114 E. Hiram St in downtown Atlanta. Upon arrival, the fire department observed smoke coming from the front exterior of the building and penetrating outward.

Upon entry, the back of the building was fully engulfed in flames. The fire started in the East Texas Tumblers business and spread to the Allday building and extended to Cobblestone. There was an alleyway between East Texas Tumblers which helped prevent the fire from spreading to the east of the building.

The community was abuzz with the witness of a second fire downtown in such a short time leading many to suspect something “was fishy”. Some of those suspicions were confirmed when Atlanta along with “multi-agency efforts” made a quick arrest, with the Journal releasing confirmation from Atlanta Police Chief Robin Betts Sunday afternoon, and Mayor Travis Ransom issuing this statement: “Due to the diligent work of law enforcement, I can confirm that one arrest has been made in connection with the fires in downtown Atlanta.Bobby Denton has been arrested and charged with Felony 1 Criminal mischief for his alleged involvement in the Thursday fire in downtown Atlanta that destroyed nearly one side of a whole block of East Hiram Street in Atlanta.”

“The District Attorney’s office and Law Enforcement agencies will likely provide additional detailed information tomorrow afternoon. My compliments to the multi-agency efforts, which have resulted in this arrest. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.”

On Monday, several media outlets lined outside the Historic Cass County Courthouse building in Linden on Monday at 3:00 pm to find out more information about the arrest. It was confirmed through a prewritten press release from Courtney Shelton that On Oct. 18, an arrest warrant was obtained by the Atlanta Police Department for Bobby Ray Denton, for the offense of Criminal Mischief>= $300,000, a first-degree felony.”

It was also proclaimed during the press release that… “While on the scene of the fire the officers with the Atlanta Police Department quickly began investigating in an effort to determine if anyone had information relating to the fire, and a witness came forward who had been with Bobby Denton in the early morning hours before the fire.”

“This witness verified that he and Bobby Denton had been in the alleyway next to East Texas Tumblers and had pushed the side door open. Denton told him they could go inside, but the witness walked away. Surveillance videos confirm the witness’s account of the time and their whereabouts. The witness told investigators with ATF and Atlanta Police Department that Denton told him there were other vacant buildings in the area where they could go set fires to stay warm,” said Shelton.

According to Shelton, “he identified at least two other buildings. Small fires in those buildings have been confirmed. From 3-7 a.m., Denton was asleep on the bench outside of the Atlanta Police Department. Around 7 a.m., Denton left the Police Department and headed south towards Hiram St. Surveillance video places Denton in the downtown area, alone, around 7:30 a.m.”

The Cass County DA’s office says that the “case is still under investigation, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence. For the safety of the public, and based on the information received, video surveillance, and other evidence received, there was sufficient evidence to affect an arrest on Bobby Ray Denton, and he currently remains incarcerated in the Cass County Jail.”

During the press release, it was asked by Kate Stow from the Gazette if Denton, was homeless, suffered from mental illness and had been bullied based on information she had gathered from family friends on Facebook. Shelton did confirm that he had been homeless at the time of the fire.

It was also asked if there was any connection to the church fire, and if they planned to move the case away from Cass County because of the sensitivity of local connection to the case so that the defendant could get a fair trial.

Shelton confirmed that Denton was not a suspect in the church fire because he was out of town during that time, and at this point, since the case is under investigation still there have not been discussions to move the location of the trial.

The Journal asked if the two other buildings where fires were lit could be confirmed. Chief Betts said the suspect potentially lit fires in the old State Movie Theater and the old Brooks Hospital.

The Journal also asked what can be done to help prevent further fires in the community. Betts responded by saying it was important to keep all doors firmly locked and install video surveillance.