Demopolis teen charged with igniting house fires
Published 5:36 pm Friday, September 9, 2016
The Demopolis Police Department has arrested a man they say is responsible for a series of house fires in the city.
Willie James Harris, 18, of Demopolis was arrested Friday after a lengthy investigation into the house fires that were set over a period of time. Harris is being charged with two counts of second degree arson, two counts of third degree burglary, one county of first degree criminal mischief, and one count of first degree criminal mischief.
Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese said in a press release that officers with his department have responded to several abandoned house fires within the city that occurred during a time spanning over one month. He added that the fires appeared to be intentionally set.
“Our investigators have worked numerous hours on this case, which has resulted in this arrest,” Reese said in the press release. “As the Chief of Police, I am very proud of my criminal investigators as well as the whole department. It should make our citizens proud to know that their police department is ‘Protecting and Serving.’”
Reese added that the investigation is still open and more arrests are expected.