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Name:
Scott, William Edward
Date of Booking:
03/30/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
Arson in the first degree ( Business)
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On Sunday March 30th, 2025 I, PFC J Taylor R77, was dispatched to 1403 Dean Ave in reference to damaged property.
Upon arrival I spoke to the clerk [WITNESS #1] and he advised me that the subject who had set fire to the stores dumpster was currently inside the store. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated that last night around 0331 hrs this morning a fire was set to the store property which lead to Fire and PD responding. [WITNESS #1] advised that the store owner watched the store footage and observed a white skinny male hanging out next to the dumpster at 0327 hrs, minutes before the fire started. Mr. [WITNESS #1] stated that the male was currently in the store still wearing the same outfit from the footage. I observed the footage and it show the male subject walking from the store toward the dumpster. The male is then seen messing around with something in his hand before leaning into the dumpster. The male then walks around the lot before walking back to the dumpster. The male then looks inside the dumpster before fleeing the area on foot at a fast pace. The dumpster is then seen becoming engulfed in flames shortly after. The whole interaction took place between 0327-0331 hrs on March 30th, 2025.
I made contact with the subject who was wearing a red and white stripped short sleeved shirt with tan pants and asked him to talk to me outside of the store. I noted that before I even made contact with the subject he was already looking at me and was trying to make anxious conversation. I asked the subject, later identified as William Scott, and asked him where he was last night leading into the morning. William stated that he was at home the entire night. When I told him that he was on footage being at that and in the store he changed his story and stated that he was there but had only been using the parking lot as a walk through to get home.
Based on the store footage, the time frame of the incident and the fact that William was still wearing the same outfit from the video I advised him that I had probable cause to say that he was responsible for the fire and therefore placed him under arrest. I searched his person and then placed him in the back seat of my Patrol Unit (177). The store footage was collected and has been uploaded to evidence.com. I then transported and booked William in at the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office on the charge of Arson 3rd Degree – 16-7-62.
While on scene the clerk and the owner advised me that William was also seen in the area on Friday March 28th, 2025 and may be connected to a fire that was started on the property of 1511 Dean Ave. Owner stated that he may have footage of the incident as well.
[End of Narrative]