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The investigation into a fire at the Clay County ABC Store on Sunday resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old male, according to a release from Sheriff Mark Buchanan.
The fire was reported at 2:18 p.m. and Clay County Fire & Rescue arrived within minutes and extinguished the blazes. The fire was concentrated in an alcove on the southeast corner of the building’s exterior.
“The exterior of the building suffered obvious damage and the interior suffered significant smoke damage,” Buchanan said in the release.
The initial investigation revealed that boxes and other materials were stored in the area and the fire had been intentionally set.
Clay County investigators reviewed video surveillance which showed no vehicles entering the area during that time frame.
Further investigation resulted in evidence indicating at least one person had recently entered the property from undeveloped acreage just north of the scene.
Buchanan said investigators used crime mapping and historical data to develop leads in the case which led to the identification of a suspect.
On Monday, Feb. 13 investigator Paydon Shook and Lt. Tyler Faggard traveled to Cherokee County to conduct an interview with the suspect who reportedly had ties to Clay County.
“ After a “very brief interview” the suspect confessed to setting the fire,” Buchanan said.
Because of legislation called the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act, the identity of the 17 year old is not being released, but the alleged offender was taken into custody by juvenile authorities “for a spree of other crimes that were committed in Clay County,” according to Buchanan.
“He will be charged accordingly with this offense in Juvenile Court. Investigators will present evidence to the District Attorney’s Office that meets the statutory requirements to have the juvenile bound over to the Superior Court to be tried as an adult,” Buchanan said.
“We all believe in second chances when it comes to our young people,” said Buchanan. “But this is not a case of a first-time or even a second-time offender. It is quite the contrary. We have investigated multiple cases involving this offender.”
The sheriff noted that Clay County Fire and Rescue and sheriffs officials “did an outstanding job in the case.”