Tag: arson

On Monday, March 20, 2023, at approximately 8:20 PM, the Dothan Fire Department and the Dothan Police Department responded to a structure fire in the 900 block of Eastwood Drive. The Dothan Fire Department arrived on scene to find the single story residence fully involved in fire. Firefighters worked for several minutes to extinguish the fire before determining they suspected arson was the cause of the fire. A Dothan Police Department Criminal Investigator was called to the scene who worked hand in hand with the Dothan Fire Department, and together they deemed arson was the cause of the fire.

The suspect of the arson, Kenneth Bernard Wood Jr, and his roommate both resided in the residence. The roommate, who was asleep at the time the fire started, woke to the residence filled with smoke and crawled out. It was learned that Wood and a family member of the roommate had a verbal disagreement earlier in the day. When officers attempted to take a statement from Wood, he refused to acknowledge them, provide a statement, give his name or identifying information and became disorderly.

As a result, 35 year-old Kenneth Bernard Wood Jr. of Dothan, was arrested and charged with one count of Arson First Degree, and one count of Obstructing Governmental Operations. His bond was set at $66,000.00.

On June 7, 2022, Dothan Fire Department and the Dothan Police Department responded to a report of a structure fire of an apartment building in the 300 block of Sixth Avenue.  A witness observed the suspect, Torenzo Marquis Perry, stack miscellaneous items on top of the stove and intentionally turn the stove on and walk out of the apartment.  Thanks to the quick action of the witness, the fire department was quickly called to the scene and the fire was extinguished before any major damage could occur.

Torenzo Marquis Perry, 25 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Arson First Degree.  His bond was set at $60,000.00.

On Tuesday, 4/19/2022, a structure fire was reported in the 200 block of North Oates Street.  This is the second time within a month this building has caught fire.  The first fire occurred on 3/28/2022.  The property is vacant and currently being remolded.  At the time of the fire Tuesday, officers in the area arrived on scene quickly and located a suspicious person on the property covered in soot.  Dothan Fire Department personnel arrived and extinguished the blaze.  The individual detained was identified as 33 year-old Joe Edward Thomas.  Thomas has had two previous encounters with police at this property and had been given a trespass warning on 01/26/2022, and then arrested for trespassing on 04/08/2022.  Thomas provided his address as homeless.

The investigation into Tuesday’s fire revealed Thomas was in possession of copper that had been removed from an air-conditioning unit in the room where the fire was located and observed leaving the room at the time the fire started by a witness to the events. Thomas was arrested and charged with Arson Second Degree for Tuesday’s fire.  His bond was set at $30,000.00.  A specific motive for setting the fire is currently unknown.

On March 28, 2022, the Dothan Fire Department and Police Department responded to an active structure fire in the 100 block of South Oates Street.   Due to the confined streets of the downtown area and the equipment used to battle the blaze, a small portion of South Oates Street had to be shut down.

Within minutes of this fire, a second active structure fire was discovered in the 200 block of North Oates Street, which was a two-story motel.  This too led to the street being shut down, which then caused a large portion of North and South Oates Street to be blocked off.  Because the two active fires were within minutes, and within blocks of each other, suspicion was quickly raised.   A criminal arson investigator from the Police Department began working alongside the Dothan Fire Marshall and they were able to determine both fires were a result of arson.

Both structures received extensive damage from the fires, however, no one was injured in either fire.  Upon officers’ arrival at the second fire, they observed a person of interest coming from the area of the fire.  That individual was detained as part of the active investigation.  Subsequently, the investigations led to the arrest of 38 year-old Jeffrey Watford, of Dothan, who was charged with two counts of arson second-degree.  His bond has been set at $60,000.00.  A motive in these cases has not been determined at this time.

On June 22, 2018 Dothan Police responded to a house fire in the 100 block of Woodleigh Road. The fire was extinguished quickly and minimal damage was received to the residence.

The fire was believed to be intentionally set and the residence was occupied at the time the fire was started. A small pouch was set on fire that also burned a fence and the siding on the residence. During the investigation Dana Kay Payne was identified as a suspect in the Arson. Payne and the resident of the apartment were reported to have a history of domestic incidents.

On June 28, 2018 Dothan Police Investigators charged Dana Kay Payne, 46, of Barbara Ct. , Dothan with one count of Arson 1st Degree. She has a no bond at this time.

All persons are innocent until proven guilty.