25-05-2025
Two suspects charged with arson at Southeast Clarke Park
An old-school surveillance stakeout by firefighters at the Southeast Clarke Park off Lexington Road led to the arrest of two suspects Thursday in an arson case.
The Athens-Clarke Fire Department announced the successful stakeout that nabbed the suspects in connection with the arson fires discovered on May 20 in the park's restrooms and a baseball field dugout.
The arson fires were set using an incendiary substance on the night of May 19, but the fires died out before being discovered, according to the fire department.
Athens-Clarke police officer Daniel Whitney arrived at the park about 7 a.m. May 20 for a training exercise for new officers when he discovered the damage, according to the police report.
Fires were set in the men and women restrooms and the words 'No New Friends' was spray-painted on a wall in the woman's bathroom, according to the report.
Fire department Cpl. Adam Gardner reported Thursday that the area was placed under surveillance for two consecutive nights by firefighters assigned to the Fire Marshal's Office. On the morning of May 22, the suspects returned, according to his report.
Police were called to the scene and both suspects were charged with felony arson in the second degree. Their names were being withheld pending formal arraignment, according to the fire report. The fire department did not release the gender of the suspects or their ages.
Capt. Kevin Kearney in the Fire Marshal's Office, released a statement saying, 'This incident represents a serious violation of public safety and a senseless act of vandalism against county property."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Stakeout of park in Athens leads to arrests of two arson suspects
