Deputies Arrest Accused Serial Arsonist

A 24-year-old man accused of setting multiple fires in the St. Andrews area was arrested Wednesday, according to the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

Jonathan Brown, 24, is charged with five counts of arson, and one count of willfully burning lands of another.   

One of the victims in Brown's fire-setting spree, saw him on Broad River and Beatty roads Wednesday and contacted law enforcement, the department said.

Brown was arrested without incident and is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Deputies said on six different occasions Brown willfully set fires to the personal property of others. That includes:

• Tuesday, January 15,  at 4031 Broad River Road (Kestner Automotive) at 2:30 a.m., Brown allegedly set fire to a gold, four door, 2000 Lincoln Ls vehicle.

• Tuesday, January 15, at 1026 Beatty Road at 10:30 a.m., Brown allegedly set fire to the residence and attempted to burn another in the same area. Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators located a 5-gallon can of used oil stuffed with pine straw at the location.

• Tuesday, January 15, at 4031 Broad River Road (Kestner Automotive) just after 11 p.m., Brown allegedly set fire to a burgundy Chrysler, and a gold Chrysler van.

• Tuesday, January 22, at 1011 Beatty Road (Carrington Place Apartments) at 5:45 p.m., Brown allegedly set fire to three separate areas in the woods adjacent to the apartment complex.

• Monday, January 28, at 4031 Broad River Road (Kestner Automotive) at 9:30 p.m., Brown allegedly set fire to two vehicles, a four-door red Chrysler and a gold Chrysler mini van.

• Wednesday, January 30 at 3827 Broad River Road (Taste of the South) at 2 p.m., Brown allegedly attempted to set fire to a chair with a lighter.      

The City of Columbia Fire Department and the Richland County Fire Marshals Office assisted with the case.