By Rebecca Lurye
The Island Packet
YEMASSEE, S.C. — The 18-year-old volunteer firefighter allegedly targeted in an arson at the Yemassee Fire Department last month faces arson charges after telling police he was involved in three other fires.
Deandre Griffin of Yemassee was arrested early Friday and charged with three counts of third-degree arson. He is accused of playing a part in fires started at the Family Dollar on Yemassee Highway in September, at a mobile home on Old Salkehatchie Highway last year, and a third incident, police Capt. Gregory Alexander said.
Yemassee police filed identical charges against Christopher Williams, 22, one of two men accused of sparking a Nov. 18 blaze at the fire house and Town Hall building while Griffin was inside. The teenager and a town clerk escaped uninjured.
Volunteer firefighters accused of setting fire to Yemassee Fire Department, town hall, Nov. 21, 2014. Alexander said he thinks the men wanted “the thrill of going to a fire, of being a firefighter.”
Yemassee Fire Chief Paul Holmes, however, called Griffin a dedicated volunteer who devotes hours to filing the department’s reports. Holmes says he doesn’t think the series of fires were Griffin’s idea. The chief said he appreciated that Griffin came forward with new information.
“I guess (the other suspects) thought he would turn them in, so that’s when they tried to kill him,” Holmes said. “When he saw how serious they were, (Griffin) wanted to set the record straight.”
Holmes said he has not decided whether to fire Griffin.
Griffin and Williams were denied bond Friday, according to the Hampton County Detention Center. Police and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division are continuing to investigate a series of unsolved fires that occurred over the last year, though Alexander said he does not expect other arrests.
Holmes said several SLED agents arrived in the town Friday morning after Griffin implicated himself and others. Holmes said he believes there are 10 to 12 unsolved fires in the town. Attempts to reach the state agency were unsuccessful Friday.
One of those took place at the home of Dominique Thompson, 21, who is accused of driving Williams to and from the fire department and town hall on Nov. 18, Holmes said.
It was not clear whether Griffin and Williams have been charged in the fire at Thompson’s house.
Williams and Thompson were charged with attempted murder and second-degree arson in the fire department incident and released from jail Tuesday on bonds of $50,000, according to court records.
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(c)2014 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.)
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