Man arrested on arson charges after Sunday fire

Published 5:00 am Friday, June 19, 2009

A Loyd Star man remained in the Lincoln County Jail Friday afterbeing charged with first degree arson related to a blaze thatdamaged an unoccupied home on James Drive Sunday, authoritiessaid.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Dustin Bairfield saidEugene Keith Brooks, 54, of 3005 James Drive, Wesson, was arrestedWednesday on the charges. Brooks allegedly set fire to anunoccupied house listed for sale on James Drive.

The State Fire Marshal’s office had representatives in townWednesday to assist in the investigation. The results of the probepointed to Brooks, Bairfield said.

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“It was a single-family dwelling that belonged to Eugene KeithBrooks, and through the investigation we were able to connectevidence to him on the fire from June 14.”

Officials said the home had recently undergone foreclosure andwas owned by Wells Fargo at the time of the fire.

Volunteer firefighters who battled the blaze said when theyentered the home to extinguish the blaze, there were several placeswhere it looked as though someone had tried to ignite a fire.Bairfield confirmed that the fire had multiple origins.

Brooks’ bond was set at $100,000.