Local news
Man charged with arson in Moore church fire
Cleveland County prosecutors have charged a Florida man with arson for allegedly setting a Moore church on fire early Tuesday.
Richard Shawn Arnold, 29, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was charged Tuesday afternoon with second-degree arson and second-degree burglary, according to court records.
Arnold has been held at the Cleveland County Detention Center since he was booked in 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Cleveland County Sheriff's Department employee. No bond has been set.
About 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, a fire was reported at the Hope Adventist Fellowship Church, 1426 NE 12th St.
"We received the call at 5:36 a.m.," Moore Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bird said.
The blaze consumed the building, and the church is considered a total loss, he said. Twenty-eight firefighters, plus Bird and the fire chief responded to the scene.
Bird said no injuries were reported. After investigating the scene, investigators determined the fire was intentionally set.
According to a court affidavit, a witness saw Arnold run from the church at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday with a "lighter wand." The witness also told investigators he saw a thin line of smoke come from the building.
Moore police arrested Arnold at the scene for public intoxication, according to the affidavit. Officers found a lighter matching the description of the lighter seen by the witness.
"Although he denies setting the fire, he admitted to attempting to enter the church," according to the court affidavit.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
- Local news
-
-
NFD investigates Wednesday night Cook Avenue house fire
Norman firefighters are investigating a fire late Wednesday that burned a bedroom in a house on Cook Avenue.
-
Bank forecloses on unopened motel
Norman-based First American Bank has begun foreclosure proceedings against the owners of a motel just south of Riverwind Casino, a bank official has confirmed.
-
Human bones found; investigation under way
Norman police and investigators with the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office are working together to identify skeletal remains found late Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area near the 2500 block of 168th Avenue NE.
-
Explosion victim released from hospital
A woman who suffered burns and lacerations in a Blanchard house explosion earlier this month was released from an Oklahoma City hospital Thursday, a hospital spokesperson said.
-
Noble Library features Dashiell Hammett flick
As part of The Big Read: The Maltese Falcon, the Noble Public Library, 204 N. Fifth, presents a movie and discussion based upon aut
-
Water use
Water usage for the City of Norman for Wednesday, March 17, was 8.2 million gallons.
-
Norman man jailed, charged with assault
A good deed apparently didn’t go unpunished for a Norman man Wednesday night as he attempted to break up a fight.
-
Woman charged in Tuesday pursuit
A Norman woman accused of leading police on a high speed pursuit Tuesday morning faces a list of criminal charges, according to court records.
-
Charges filed in district court
The following felonies were filed in Cleveland County District Court: · Zachariah Ransom Garrett, 22, Wynnewood, larceny of
-
Two men face multiple felony sex charges in district court
Cleveland County prosecutors have filed multiple felony sex charges against two men in separate cases. Each man is accused of sexually abusing a young girl.
- More Local news Headlines
-
NFD investigates Wednesday night Cook Avenue house fire
