Two Perry County Men Arrested on Arson Charges
By: Petit Jean Country Headlight, KARK 4 News Content Partner
Updated: June 20, 2012
Two Perry County men have been charged with two counts of arson in connection with a fire that destroyed three vacant homes about 3 miles east of Perryville early Sunday morning.
Sheriff Scott Montgomery said Clarence Grable Jr., 30, and James Milton Sitton, 33, both of Houston, are being held in the detention center and each is charged with a Class B and Class C felony count of arson.
Five Perry County fire departments responded to the fire on Highway 60 near the Sweet Home Loop intersection shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday. One structure was already engulfed when firefighters arrived. Several firefighters suffered heat exhaustion while battling the blazes.
Montgomery said the two men were evicted by the property owner, James Caldwell, within the last couple of months. The sheriff said the two men had apparently been drinking and decided to burn the houses.
Montgomery said the men confessed to setting fire to two of the structures and the fire spread to the third residence. No damage estimate was available.
The Perryville, Houston, Harris Brake, Cherry Hill and Perry fire departments responded.
Firefighters were called back twice Sunday and again on Monday when small fires rekindled from bundles of paper.
Photos courtesy: Petit Jean Country (follow the link to the article and go to page 17)
Sheriff Scott Montgomery said Clarence Grable Jr., 30, and James Milton Sitton, 33, both of Houston, are being held in the detention center and each is charged with a Class B and Class C felony count of arson.
Five Perry County fire departments responded to the fire on Highway 60 near the Sweet Home Loop intersection shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday. One structure was already engulfed when firefighters arrived. Several firefighters suffered heat exhaustion while battling the blazes.
Montgomery said the two men were evicted by the property owner, James Caldwell, within the last couple of months. The sheriff said the two men had apparently been drinking and decided to burn the houses.
Montgomery said the men confessed to setting fire to two of the structures and the fire spread to the third residence. No damage estimate was available.
The Perryville, Houston, Harris Brake, Cherry Hill and Perry fire departments responded.
Firefighters were called back twice Sunday and again on Monday when small fires rekindled from bundles of paper.
Photos courtesy: Petit Jean Country (follow the link to the article and go to page 17)
