The Decatur County Sheriff's have made arrests in 2 arson cases.
A vacant house at 515 Bethany Church Road had been burglarized several times in the preceding months. The Tallahassee owner then installed video surveillance, to catch what was thought to be the same thief.
Last Tuesday morning, this same vacant house was the scene of a fire. Investigator Melanie Wood responded and suspected arson. She contacted the State Fire Marshall and on Wednesday he deemed it arson. He determined the fire began on a day bed in the living room.
The house owner was able to retrieve the hard drive containing the video recording. When Investigators Victor Strickland and Wood were able to view the recording, it was better than they had even hoped. Clearly on the tape was Shawn Keith Smith. (at left, Caught Running with Copper last Tuesday)
Video showed Smith kicking in the front door and burglarizing the house. Investigators stated the video camera was spotted and Mr Smith searched the house for the system, apparently to destroy it and the evidence of his burglary. Mr Smith did not find it and set the house on fire.
Coincidentally, last Tuesday night, as told in our article, Sheriff's Deputies spotted Shawn Keith Smith and he sped off down Bethany Church Road. They caught him with a trunk of copper. What was not included last week, was that Investigator Julian Crowder had been posted at the burned house through the night. Being right there, Investigator Crowder spotted Smith making the turn off Bethany Church Road and he kept deputies on track to grab Smith.
Investigators tracked him down on Tuesday night and arrested 29 year old Shawn Keith Smith of 152 Josey Lane. He was charged with arson in the first degree, burglary, theft by receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana.
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On December 17, 2007 a vacant house at 211 S. Main Street in Attapulgus caught fire Power and utilities had been shut off to the home and arson was immediately suspected.
Sheriff's Investigator Melanie Wood uncovered several witnesses that named Steve Griffiss as the offender. On Tuesday, Steven Dewayne Griffiss, 45, of 215 S. Main Street in Attapulgus was arrested for arson in the first degree.
