LAFAYETTE COUNTY – Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office said a 27-year-old man was arrested and charged after investigators linked him to two separate arson fires reported Monday night and early Tuesday.
Authorities said county E-911 received a call at about 8:55 p.m. Monday reporting a barn and a vehicle on fire at a residence in Lafayette County. Deputies and the Lafayette County Fire Department responded.
Investigators determined Alexander Everett Kent, 27, of Oxford drove a vehicle into a detached shop at his parents’ home and then intentionally set fire to both the vehicle and the shop before fleeing, the sheriff’s office said.
While firefighters were still on scene, a deputy reported a second residence on fire at about 10:21 p.m., authorities said. The sheriff’s office said that fire began from a vehicle inside an attached garage. Four occupants were helped out of the home and were not injured.
Deputies and investigators began an overnight search, and a sheriff’s office K-9 tracked the suspect to a specific area, officials said. Oxford Police Department assisted by deploying a drone during the search.
Kent was located and arrested about 7 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, the sheriff’s office said. Sheriff Joey East said multiple agencies worked together to apprehend Kent safely.
Kent was being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center awaiting an initial court appearance. He was charged with two counts of arson and one count of felony malicious mischief, authorities said. The investigation remains ongoing.
