3 People Set Weedon Island Fire, Watched It Burn: Deputies

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has announced three arrests in connection with an April 15 fire that ripped through 6.1 acres of land on Googe Island within the Weedon Island Preserve.

According to authorities, deputies received a 911 call about the fire shortly after it began. During the course of the investigation, a witness told St. Petersburg Police officers a vessel had been seen leaving the area shortly after the fire started.

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Deputies say their investigation led them to Brandon Kholos, 20, Adam Grote, 20, and a 17-year-old boy. All three are from St. Petersburg.

Authorities say the three started a camp fire on the island, but two of them decided to hold up lit palm fronds “to other palm fronds, setting them on fire.” After starting the blaze, the three are accused of leaving the island without calling 911.

“They left the island on the vessel and watched the fire burn from the end of 62nd Avenue,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

The three were brought into custody on May 24. The 17-year-old and Grote were charged with one count of intentional burning of lands. Kholos was charged with one count of intentional burning of lands as the principal. Patch is not identifying the 17-year-old due to his age.

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Photos of Grote, Kholos and the fire site courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s