A white man has been charged with arson after allegedly setting three fires in a single night time at an condo advanced in Nashville, Tennessee. Probably the most disturbing a part of his alleged crimes is that he tried to get an imaginary Black particular person to take the autumn for one in all them.
On Saturday (Dec. 14), Joshua Spain, 26, was arrested and charged with arson, disorderly conduct and making a false report per WKRN. On Dec. 5, native firefighters have been referred to as to place out two dumpster fires within the parking zone of an condo advanced.
Only one hour later, firefighters have been referred to as again to the identical condo advanced the place a construction was additionally set on fireplace. Although it took staff hours to totally extinguish the hearth, no accidents have been reported.
It didn’t take lengthy for a suspect to be reported by the Nashville Fireplace Division and arrested for questioning.
Officers stated a person carrying a black cowboy hat and darkish clothes was on the scene of the fireplace in addition to the 2 dumpster fires an hour earlier than on the similar location. The suspect, later recognized as Spain, reportedly defined to fireside investigators that he was chargeable for the dumpster fires.
Nevertheless, Spain insisted that the condo fireplace was set by a Black man utilizing an antifreeze bottle and a inexperienced lighter. What’s much more appalling is that Spain went on to say that he was assaulted by the person when he tried to intervene.
Spain additionally stated he referred to as 911 to report what occurred, however hung up after he described the alleged suspect. Regardless of his claims, a person matching Spain’s description was caught on video surveillance footage the place the fires occurred.
Investigators additionally said that “The footage supplied no proof of any Black male within the space earlier than or throughout the three fireplace incidents.”
Video proof, witness statements and Spain’s testimony led police to imagine that “the suspect [Spain] is chargeable for setting the dumpster fires and the hearth on the condo constructing.”
Spain is presently being at an area jail on $47,500 bond.